Effect of the Dielectric Core and Embedding Medium on the Second Harmonic Generation from Plasmonic Nanoshells: Tunability and Sensing

Abstract

Using Mie theory extended to the second harmonic generation from gold nanoshells, we have investigated the effect of the dielectric constant of the dielectric core and embedding medium. As the linear extinction, the SHG cross section is found to be tunable through a change of the core dielectric constant. The impact of the dielectric constant of the embedding medium is also addressed, and practical applications like sensing are discussed. Finally, we show that sensing properties can be optimized by modifying the core dielectric constant.