Light transmission and local field enhancement in arrays of silver nanocylinders

Vertical silver nanocylinders have been fabricated by two-photon microfabrication technique. The three-dimensional propagation of visible light along and between the nanocylinders has been characterized by wide-field transmission microscopy. Transmission spectra were collected with a fiber coupled spectrometer and optical images were taken with a camera using an inverted microscope. Intensity enhancements occur along the nanocylinders surfaces for wavelengths in the visible range. Finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulations are in good agreement with the experimental results. The electromagnetic field enhancement was evaluated, in order to analyze the suitability of the studied structures for sensing applications. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.