Simulation of optical transmission enhancements for the silver nanoparticles embedded in the silica layer atop the silicon substrate

Different structures of the silver nanoparticles embedded in the silica layer atop the silicon substrate are simulated by the finite-difference time-domain method. The effects of nanoparticle size, period, and the silica layer thickness are studied and the comparisons of the structures with and without the silica layers are given. It is found that the optical transmissions are enhanced for the cases with the silver nanoparticles embedded in the silica layer.