Diffraction Regimes of Single Holes

We investigate both experimentally and theoretically the far-field diffraction patterns of single circular apertures as a function of their diameters d and at a given illumination wavelength lambda. We observe the transition between the well-known pseudoscalar regime of large holes (d >> lambda) and the less-known vectorial regime of subwavelength ones (d << lambda). Four different diffraction regimes are identified for different d/lambda regions, each one with its polarization dependence. A thorough comparison with a theoretical model, which takes into account both finite hole size and the dielectric properties of the metal, allows us to explain and understand the physical processes leading to this behavior. Our results reveal the subtle interplay between two competing factors, one related to polarization symmetries associated with surface-plasmon excitations and the other originating in the coupling of the field to the waveguide mode of the aperture.