We report a consistent derivation of a tight-binding formalism, both in the frequency and in the time domain, for the analysis of electromagnetic energy transfer in single-mode cavity-plasmon waveguides. Moreover, we derive closed-form solutions of the relevant tight-binding equations, which describe the response of these waveguides under time-varying excitations by a localized light source. In this context, we discuss the possibility of efficient single-mode waveguiding through coupled cavity-plasmon modes in chains of spheroidal silicon nanoparticles in silver at optical frequencies.

Plasmonic systems of two- and three-dimensional ordered arrays of metallic nanodisks are studied by means of full-electrodynamic calculations using the layer-multiple-scattering method. In particular, we investigate the electromagnetic interaction of waveguide modes of an indium tin oxide film on a quartz substrate with collective-plasmon modes of a two-dimensional periodic overlayer of gold nanodisks and obtain excellent quantitative agreement with experiment. Moreover, we report a thorough analysis of the optical properties of three-dimensional photonic crystals of metallic nanodisks.

Collective plasmonic modes in two- and three-dimensional periodic assemblies of metallic nanoshells are studied by means of full electrodynamic calculations using the layer-multiple-scattering method. We consider structures made of a single type of nanoshell as well as binary heterostructures made of two different types of nanoshells. The complex photonic band structure of such three-dimensional photonic crystals is analyzed in conjunction with relevant transmission diagrams of corresponding finite slabs and the physical origin of the different optical modes is elucidated. Moreover, we discuss associated absorption spectra and provide a consistent interpretation of the underlying physics. In the case of the binary systems, the plasmonic modes of the two building components coexist, leading to a rich structure of resonances over an extended frequency range and to broadband absorption.

We report on the observation of two hypersonic phononic gaps of different nature in three-dimensional colloidal films of nanospheres using Brillouin light scattering. One is a Bragg gap occurring at the edge of the first Brillouin zone along a high-symmetry crystal direction. The other is a hybridization gap in crystalline and amorphous films, originating from the interaction of the band of quadrupole particle eigenmodes with the acoustic effective-medium band, and its frequency position compares well with the computed lowest eigenfrequency. Structural disorder eliminates the Bragg gap, while the hybridization gap is robust.

We present an efficient computational methodology for full electrodynamic calculations of metallodielectric nanostructures based on a multiple-scattering formulation of Maxwell's equations. The method, originally developed for systems of spherical particles (MULTEM code), is extended to systems of particles of arbitrary shape and applied to ordered structures of metallic nanodisks with an aspect ratio as large as five. We first discuss the particle plasmon resonances of single metallic nanocylinders of different aspect ratios. Then, we study the plasmonic excitations of square arrays of metal-dielectric-metal nanosandwiches and the optical response of a rectangular lattice of metallic nanodisks on a dielectric waveguide. Finally we analyse the photonic band structure of a simple cubic crystal of metallic nanodisks.

Periodic nanostructures for plasmonic engineering, comprising one or two types of silica core - metallic shell spherical particles, are studied by means of full electrodynamic calculations using the layer-multiple-scattering method. The complex photonic band structure of such three-dimensional crystals is analyzed in conjunction with relevant transmission spectra of corresponding finite slabs and the physical origin of the different optical modes is elucidated, providing a consistent interpretation of the underlying physics. In the case of binary structures, collective plasmonic modes originating from the two building components coexist, leading to broadband absorption and a rich structure of resonances and hybridization gaps over an extended frequency range.

We report a theoretical study of two-dimensional periodic arrays of composite particles, consisting of two metallic nanodisks separated by a dielectric spacer, using an efficient and accurate multiple-scattering method, which was originally developed for systems of spherical particles and recently extended to non-spherical shapes. In particular, we discuss the plasmonic excitations in such isolated nanosandwiches and study the influence of geometrical parameters like the thickness of the dielectric spacer. Moreover, we investigate the interaction between such composite particles as they approach each other in a two-dimensional periodic lattice.

Plasmonic excitations in two- and three-dimensional ordered assemblies of metal-dielectric-metal nanosandwiches are studied by means of full-electrodynamic calculations using the layer-multiple-scattering method. Plasmon hybridization results in collective electric-dipole-like and magnetic-dipole-like resonant modes, which are directly controlled by the lattice constant and the geometrical characteristics of the building units. It is shown that, in planar arrays of such composite nanoparticles on a dielectric substrate, the magnetic resonance induces a negative effective permeability, as large as −2  , which can be tuned within the range of near-infrared and visible frequencies. However, as successive layers are stacked together to build a three-dimensional crystal, the region of negative effective permeability shrinks and disappears for relatively thick slabs. Our analysis demonstrates that the complex photonic band structure is a valuable tool in the study of three-dimensional metamaterials and their effective-medium description.