Single atom enables extraordinary light transmission through a zero-mode waveguide

The integration of elementary quantum objects (atoms, molecules, and quantum dots) with solid-state nanostructures lies at the forefront of nano-optics, nanophotonics, and quantum information science. However, the advancement of this field is hindered by the lack of a rigorous and feasible theoretical framework for describing atom-nanostructure interactions, which are inherently complex and multiparametric. In this work, we develop a theory of light transmission through a zero-mode waveguide (ZMW) containing a single atom. It is shown that the presence of a single atom inside the ZMW can lead to either a significant enhancement or suppression of light transmission, depending on the detuning of the excitation field frequency from the atomic resonance. This extraordinary transmission and blocking effect can be employed for studying the spatiotemporal dynamics of atoms in complex nanoscopic environments, probing quantum optical phenomena, and developing novel nano-optical devices.