Optical Spectra of Metal-Dielectric Nanocomposites with a Layered Subwave Structure

Abstract

The results of theoretical and experimental investigations of the optical spectra of layer-periodic nanocomposites consisting of alternating tightly packed monolayers of silver nanoparticles and separating KCl layers of subwave thickness are presented. The characteristic features of the spectral dependence of the transmission and reflection coefficients of this type of nanocomposites have been analyzed for the case where the photon forbidden bands are located near the plasmon-absorption band. Experimental samples were prepared by successive thermal evaporation of silver and KCl in vacuum. Theoretical calculations were carried out using the quasi-crystalline approximation of the theory of multiple scattering of waves. It is shown that the spectral position, shape, and intensity of absorption and reflection bands can be regulated by changing the optical thickness of the intermediate dielectric films in a layered metal-dielectric composite.