Electromagnetic Green's function for layered systems: Applications to nanohole interactions in thin metal films

Abstract: We derive expressions for the electromagnetic Green's function for a layered system using a transfer matrix technique. The expressions we arrive at makes it possible to study symmetry properties of the Green's function, such as reciprocity symmetry, and the long-range properties of the Green's function which involves plasmon waves as well as boundary waves, also known as Norton waves. We apply the method by calculating the light scattering cross section off a chain of nanoholes in a thin Au film. The results highlight the importance of nanohole interactions mediated by surface plasmon propagating along the chain of holes.