Optical properties of metal nanoparticles with no center of inversion symmetry: observation of volume plasmons

TL;DR

This paper investigates the optical responses of asymmetric L-shaped silver nanoparticles, revealing multiple plasmon resonances, including a novel volume plasmon mode linked to the particles' lack of inversion symmetry.

Contribution

It provides both theoretical and experimental insights into how asymmetry in nanoparticles influences their plasmonic behavior, especially the observation of volume plasmons.

Findings

Multiple polarization-dependent plasmon resonances identified.

Volume plasmons observed in asymmetric nanoparticles.

Resonance origins linked to nanoparticle asymmetry.

Abstract

We present theoretical and experimental studies of the optical response of L-shaped silver nanoparticles. The scattering spectrum exhibits several plasmon resonances that depend sensitively on the polarization of the incident electromagnetic field. The physical origin of the resonances is traced to different plasmon phenomena. In particular, a high energy band with unusual properties is interpreted in terms of volume plasmon oscillations arising from the asymmetry of a nanoparticle.