Evidence for inhibited diffraction of light propagating through nanolaminate metallodielectric material

We report the fabrication and characterization of laterally continuous silver layers alternated with glassy amorphous polycarbonate films with the thickness of each layer much less than the wavelength. Such films exhibit physical phenomena associated with the coupled plasmon resonances. We have characterized light propagation through the resulting metal-dielectric (MD) periodic structures using collection mode Near Field Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM). In agreement with published theoretical models, our experiments provide evidence that diffraction can be inhibited for light propagating through metallodielectric nanolaminate.