Magnetic response of split ring resonators (SRRs) at visible frequencies

In this paper, we report on a substantial shift in the response of arrays of similarly sized Split Ring Resonators (SRRs), having a rectangular U-shaped form - and made respectively of aluminium and of gold. We also demonstrate that it is possible to obtain the polarization dependent LC peak in the visible spectrum - by using SRRs based on aluminium, rather than gold. The response of metallic SRRs scales linearly with size. At optical frequencies, metals stop behaving like nearly perfect conductors and begin displaying characteristically different behaviour, in accord with the Drude model. The response at higher frequencies, such as those in the visible and near infra-red, depends both on their size and on the individual properties of the metals used. A higher frequency limit has been observed in the polarization dependent response (in particular the LC resonance peak) of gold based SRRs in the near infrared region. By using aluminium based SRRs instead of gold, the higher frequency limit of the LC resonance can be further shifted into the visible spectrum. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America