Aperture arrays, fluorescence enhancement

Liu YD, Blair S (2003) Fluorescence enhancement from an array of subwavelength metal apertures. Opt Lett 28 507-509... 

We therefore assume that the major effect of the array is in increased collection of light within the apertures. In the simulation results of this section, we only consider briefly the excitation component to enhanced fluorescence emission. As already established by experiments, the light intensity within periodic arrangements of nanoapertures increases in association with EOT and is a result of aperture coupling effects via surface waves under external excitation. This coupling therefore modulates the response obtained for an isolated aperture. Simulations were performed in the same manner as described before, except for the fact that periodic boundary conditions were used along the sides of the simulaticHi space boundary. 

In addition to nanoaperture arrays, structured af>ertures could provide higher fluorescence rate enhancement than single apertures, while still enabling efficient signal-to-background discrimination. Examples include the bull s eye structures (56, 23), nanopockets (68) or combined slit and aperture (69). 

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