Long vs. short-range orders in random subwavelength hole arrays

We analyze the progressive introduction of disorder in periodic subwavelength hole arrays. Two models of disorder are discussed from their associated Fourier transforms and correlation functions. The optical transmission properties of the corresponding arrays are closely related with the evolutions of structure factors, as experimentally detailed. Remarkably, the optical properties of random arrays are not in general equal to those of the single hole as a result of short-range correlations corresponding to hole-to-hole interactions. These correlations are due to packing constraints that are controlled through the careful generation of random patterns. For high density pattern, short-range order can take over long-range order associated with the periodic array. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America