PRINCIPAL WAVES IN MULTIPLY CONNECTED WAV E-GUIDES - CONCENTRATION OFLASER-RADIATION ON AREAS OF SUBWAVELENGTH DIMENSIONS

It is demonstrated that multiply connected waveguides can be used for the localisation or concentration of electromagnetic radiation at opti cal frequencies on areas of subwavelength transverse dimensions. In op tical microscopes this makes subwavelength resolution possible along a ll three spatial coordinates. The use of multiply coupled waveguides o f subwavelength dimensions in the interaction of matter with laser rad iation can increase considerably the field intensity in an optical wav e. Applications of subwavelength waveguides in submicron photolithogra phy, nanotechnology for microelectronics, and optical data storage and retrieval are discussed.