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Quantum Confinement Effects on the Near Field Enhancement in Metallic Nanoparticles

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Abstract

In this work, we study the strong confinement effects on the electromagnetic response of metallic nanoparticles. We calculate the field enhancement factor for nanospheres of various radii by using optical constants obtained from both classical and quantum approaches, and compare their size dependent features. To evaluate the scattered near field, we solve the electromagnetic wave equation within a finite element framework. When quantization of electronic states is considered for the input optical functions, a significant blue-shift in the resonance of the enhanced field is observed, in contrast to the case in which functions obtained classically are used. Furthermore, a noticeable underestimation of the field amplification is found in the calculation based on a classical dielectric function. Our results are in good agreement with available experimental reports and provide relevant information on the cross-over between classical and quantum regime, useful in potentiating nanoplasmonics applications.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Department of Physics of the Universidad de Los Andes, and the UPTC’s Research Division for financial support.

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Author notes

  1. Mario Zapata-Herrera

    Present address: Materials Physics Center CSIC-UPV/EHU and Donostia International Physics Center DIPC, Donostia-San Sebastián, 20018, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Física, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, DC, 111711, Colombia

    Mario Zapata-Herrera & Angela S. Camacho

  2. Physics Department, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada

    Jefferson Flórez

  3. Grupo de Física Teórica y Computacional, Escuela de Física, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia (UPTC), Tunja, 150003, Boyacá, Colombia

    Hanz Y. Ramírez

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  1. Mario Zapata-Herrera
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  4. Hanz Y. Ramírez
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Correspondence to Hanz Y. Ramírez.

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Zapata-Herrera, M., Flórez, J., Camacho, A.S. et al. Quantum Confinement Effects on the Near Field Enhancement in Metallic Nanoparticles. Plasmonics 13, 1–7 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-016-0476-y

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