Interference of surface plasmon resonances causes enhanced depolarized light scattering from metal nanoparticles

We show that the strongly depolarized light scattering from noble metal particles is a result of interference of two surface plasmon resonances on the same particle. The maximum depolarization occurs between two resonances. Under favorable conditions the anisotropy of the scattering light can be much lower than what is possible for dielectric particles. This explanation is discussed in relation to earlier published experimental measurements. Comparison of experimental results with theoretical calculations provides information on the shape distribution of metallic particles in the suspension. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved