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Measurement of Scattering Nonlinearities from a Single Plasmonic Nanoparticle
Published on: January 3, 2016
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Universal dispersion of surface plasmons in flat nanostructures
Franz-Philipp Schmidt1, Harald Ditlbacher2, Ulrich Hohenester2
11] Institute of Physics, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, Graz 8010, Austria [2] Institute for Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis (FELMI), Graz University of Technology, Steyrergasse 17, Graz 8010, Austria.
Nature Communications
|April 11, 2014
Summary
The optical properties of metal nanostructures, unlike semiconductors, are governed by surface plasmons. Researchers found simple scaling rules relate plasmonic modes across different dimensionalities, using silver nanodisks and thin films as models.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Optical properties of nanostructures depend on dimensionality.
- Semiconductor properties are governed by excitonic effects.
- Metal nanostructures' optical response is dominated by surface plasmons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between dimensionality and optical properties in plasmonic nanostructures.
- To establish scaling rules for plasmonic mode dispersions.
- To introduce a new ordering scheme for plasmonic excitations.
Main Methods:
- Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).
- Fabrication and characterization of silver nanodisks and thin films.
- Analysis of mode dispersions and scaling relationships.
Main Results:
- Plasmonic mode dispersions in different dimensionalities are related by simple scaling rules.
- Modes of silver nanodisks can be scaled to surface and edge modes of silver thin films.
- Identified surface and edge modes as fundamental building blocks for plasmonic excitations.
Conclusions:
- A general and intuitive ordering scheme for plasmonic excitations is introduced.
- Dimensionality in plasmonic systems follows predictable scaling laws, unlike excitonic systems.
- Surface and edge plasmon modes are key to understanding plasmonic behavior across dimensions.
