Analysis of plasmon resonances on a metal particle

Abstract

An analytical representation of plasmon resonance modes of a metal particle is developed in the basis of the null-field method and its modal expansion of the particle optical response. This representation allows for the characterization of plasmon modes properties, as their spectral position, bandwidth, amplitude and local field enhancement. Moreover, the derivation of a phenomenological equation governing such resonances relates them to open resonator behavior. The resonance bandwidth corresponds to the plasmon life-time, whereas its amplitude is related to the coupling coefficient with the incident excitation. An efficient algorithm is used to compute and characterize the resonance parameters of silver spheroids as function of the particle geometry. The normal modes present on spheres are split into different azimuthal resonant modes in the case of spheroids, with amplitude depending on the incident polarization and position dependent on the particle aspect ratio.