Optical absorption in metallic-dielectric microstructures

A new technique capable of estimating the deposition rates of optical energy into metallic and dielectric portions of a composite microstructure is described. Our approach is applicable to both periodic and nonperiodic microstructures with associated length scales comparable to or less than the incident wavelength. Analytic results for the deposition rates are given, and large deviations from the predictions of geometrical optics, which arise because of interference effects, are elucidated and calculated.