Three-dimensional subwavelength confinement of terahertz electromagnetic surface modes in a coupled slit structure

We report on the three-dimensional subwavelength confinement of the electromagnetic waves at a coupled metallic slit structure beyond diffraction limit in terahertz region. Lateral confinement behavior, leading to the three-dimensional confinement, is caused by a strong funneling effect of the light which occurs at the intersection of slits with a sharp metal geometry. Tunability of the resonant frequency and the position of the light confinement is achieved by controlling the slit length and the position of the intersection of slits, respectively. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America