The characterization of coupled plasmonic systems

In this thesis numerical methods are used to understand the individual and collective optical response of metal nanoparticles (MNPs). In particular, finite 1D assemblies of MNPs are characterized by analytical solutions to Maxwell's equations. Small particle solutions such as the well-established plasmon hybridization scheme as well as a novel circuit model explaining the intrinsic mechanisms of free electron dynamics help to characterize the optical response of single and coupled MNPs. Complex systems of closely spaced MNPs with small interparticle gaps are studied with the help of full scattering solutions to Maxwell's equations. It is shown that higher order plasmon modes facilitate strong near-fields between MNPs, and in linear chains foster specific optical attributes which are present in more complex systems, playing a key role in energy propagation along practical MNP waveguides