Optical switching in metal-slit arrays on nonlinear dielectric substrates

We propose a scheme for an optical limiter and switch of the transmitted light intensity in an array of subwavelength metallic slits placed on a nonlinear Kerr-type dielectric substrate of finite thickness, where the geometrical parameters are designed for operation at telecom wavelengths. Our approach is based on the abrupt changes of the output light intensity observed in these systems near transmission minima.We acknowledge the support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (the projects MAT2008- 06609-C02 and CSD2007-046-Nanolight.es), the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (project Intramural 2008601253), and the Australian Research Council