Theoretical Models and Numerical Approaches to Nanoscale Microscopies and Spectroscopies of Plasmonic Systems

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2021Harnessing electromagnetic and thermal interactions among single and coupled metal nanoparticle systems creates opportunities to advance scientific endeavors and enhance different engineered technologies. Designing these nanoparticle systems and measuring their manufactured properties pose two challenges which may be addressed through the development of analytic and numeric models. This dissertation contains models which describe the optical and thermal response of coupled, plasmonically active metal nanoparticle systems. The models are used to design different nanoparticle structures which support actively tunable properties. Also included in this dissertation are models of single-particle microscopy and spectroscopy measurements on plasmonic systems (photothermal-based measurements in Part II and electron energy loss measurements in Part III). These models are used to interpret experimental data obtained from collaborators. Feedback between theory and experiment allows the models to be verified and improved to more accurately approximate the different experimental observables and to design more advanced nanostructures with exotic thermal and electromagnetic properties