Electromagnetically induced transparency and slow light in an array of metallic nanoparticles

We present a classical analog of electromagnetically induced transparency occurring when light is absorbed by a two-dimensional lattice of metallic spheres mounted on an asymmetric dielectric waveguide. The transparency is manifested as a spectral hole within the surface-plasmon absorption peak of the metallic spheres and is a result of destructive interference of the waveguide modes with incident radiation. The presence of transparency windows is accompanied by slow light effect wherein the group velocity is reduced by a factor of 6000. At the same time, the minimum length for storing a bit of information is of the order of 100 nm. The proposed setup is a much easier means to achieve transparency and slow light compared to existing atomic, solid-state, and photonic systems and allows for the realization of ultracompact optical delay lines and buffers.