Abstract

The effects of microscopic diffuseness of the boundary surface of metal spheres on the surface plasmons and the optical properties are investigated. It is found that the surface-plasmon frequencies are lower than those of a sphere with a sharp surface. The extinction cross sections of small spheres with diffuse surfaces are calculated, and a corresponding shift of the absorption maxima towards the low-frequency side is found to occur, as well as a broadening of the peaks. The relationship of these calculations to previous optical measurements performed on small metal spheres is discussed.

© 1976 Optical Society of America

Optical properties of spatially dispersive dielectric spheres

R. Ruppin
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 71(6) 755-758 (1981)

Optical Extinction of Metal Spheres*

W. T. Doyle and A. Agarwal
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 55(3) 305-309 (1965)

Optical Modes of Vibration in an Ionic Crystal Sphere*

Ronald Fuchs and K. L. Kliewer
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 58(3) 319-330 (1968)

Light scattering from surfaces with a single dielectric overlayer*

J. M. Elson
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 66(7) 682-694 (1976)

Classical and quantum aspects of size effects

Michele Cini
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 71(4) 386-392 (1981)