Inverse metal-stripe polarizers

Metal-stripe polarizers that transmit the TE component and block the TM com ponent of a monochromatic electromagnetic plane wave are designed by rigoro us diffraction theory of gratings. The polarization ratio of such an invers e metal-stripe polarizer made of gold can theoretically exceed 100 at, for example, lambda = 632.8 nm. In our first fabrication experiments with direc t-write electron beam lithography the inverse transmission effect was verif ied for Cr and Au gratings. Polarization ratios of up to 10 were achieved f or gold gratings; the difference between the theoretical and experimental r esults is explained by the presence of a thin Ti adhesion layer.