Effect of Surface Plasmon Resonance on the Anomalous Result of Young’s Double-Slit Experiment with a Metal Screen

Abstract

An abnormal result of Young’s classic experiment with two slits in a metal screen is discussed, in which the appearance of a light spot behind a screen located centrally between the images of the slits is unusual. It is shown that the anomaly is caused by plasmon resonance in the metal–dielectric structure. The intensity of the diffraction pattern is calculated. Under resonance conditions, it overcomes the diffraction limit.