Achieving superresolution in near-field optical data readout systems using surface plasmons

The effects of surface plasmons and enhanced transmission on the readout contrast in a superresolving near-field optical data system are studied numerically using an exact Green's tensor formulation. It is shown that plasmon effects can both help and hinder such a readout system, and the system geometry must be chosen carefully to produce optimal effects. Under certain conditions, the system can have a readout contrast approaching 50% and a resolution of at least lambda/3. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.