Resonant optical excitations in complementary plasmonic nanostructures.

We compare the plasmonic response of two complementary structures to a scanning electron probe; a silver nanowire and a nanoslot in a silver film of comparable dimensions, desirable for their localized electromagnetic enhancement and enhanced optical transmission respectively. Through electron energy loss spectroscopy, multiple plasmonic resonant harmonics setup in both structures are resolved with inverted phase, in agreement with Babinet's principle, and of consequence in the design and fabrication of nanostructures.