Single atom enables extraordinary light transmission through zero-mode waveguide

Abstract: In this work, we develop a theory of light transmission through a Zero-Mode Waveguide (ZMW) containing a single atom. It is shown that the presence of a single atom inside the ZMW can lead to either a significant enhancement or suppression of light transmission, depending on the detuning of the excitation field frequency from the atomic resonance. This extraordinary transmission and blocking effect can be employed for studying the spatiotemporal dynamics of atoms in complex nanoscopic environments, probing quantum optical phenomena, and developing novel nano-optical devices.