Simple model for the hybridization of surface plasmon resonances in metallic nanoparticles

An "electrostatic" eigenmode method based on the coupling of evanescent electric fields is presented for modeling the hybridization of localized surface plasmon resonances in metallic nanoparticles of arbitrary shape. The method yields simple analytical expressions for the hybridized energies and excitation amplitudes of nanoparticle ensembles. Because of its ease of applicability and simple conceptual basis, we anticipate that the method will be of value in understanding and predicting the effects of interacting plasmonic nanoparticles.