Ultrasensitive switching between resonant reflection and absorption in periodic gratings

Abstract

Guided-Mode Resonance (GMR) effects in transparent periodic gratings possess a number of remarkable phenomena. GMRs exhibit strong features in the optical spectrum, i.e. dips, peaks, cusps, and may attain extremely high Q-factors. In some cases resonant reflection with the efficiency equal to unity can be observed. We demonstrate that the introduction of small losses in the structure can drastically modify its optical response by causing strong absorption resonances. Unity reflection in loss-free structures can be almost completely converted into unity absorption peaks as soon as very small losses are introduced. Even thin absorbing films in the structure (or in its vicinity) can lead to such strong resonant absorption effects. The resonances may exhibit a negligible spectral shift, but a significant variation in the magnitude when losses are slightly altered, which is highly attractive for sensor and switch applications. Absorption peaks experience a resonant behavior with respect to both frequency and material losses. We show that the width of the absorption peaks decreases and approaches the width of the reflection peaks, as losses decrease. Thus, high-Q resonances can be observed. The absorption resonances also possess strong angular dependence; they may split and significantly increase in magnitude for a slightly inclined incidence. We elucidate the resonant reflection/absorption effects theoretically and provide numerical examples.