Optical response of noble metal nanoparticles

Abstract

4 pags., 1 fig. ; The rich structure of surface plasmon modes localized in noble metal nanoparticles is explored by optical spectroscopy, spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and by electron beam-induced radiation emission. Spectral features and spatiallyresolved maps of surface plasmon modes are calculated by using the boundary element method. Our results show the unmatched capability of electron beams for spectrally and spatially probing plasmon modes in metal nanoparticles. ; We acknowledge support from the European Union (NMP4-SL-2008-213669-ENSEMBLE, ICT-2009-4-248909-LIMA, and FP7-ICT-2009-4-248855-N4E) and the Spanish MICINN (MAT2010-14885 and Consolider NanoLight.es). V.M. acknowledges the Spanish CSIC -JAE grant. ; Peer reviewed