Vector diffraction theory of light propagation through nanostructures

Abstract

It is well known that "vector" diffraction theory needs to be invoked to describe the propagation of light through apertures having dimensions on the order of the wavelength of light. For regions close to the aperture, use of Kirchhoff boundary conditions in the aperture plane is invalid. The Hertz vector formalism provides a way to describe the diffraction of light beams through apertures having sizes ranging from half the wavelength of light to larger values. Here we will present a summary of the method used to calculate the distribution of all of the electromagnetic field components and a Poynting vector component at and near the plane of a single elliptical aperture.