Discrete Dipole Approximation Simulation of Nearly Touching Plasmonic Au Dimers and Influence of Particle Shape Assembly on Optical Response.

The method Discrete Dipole Approximation (DDA) is used to calculate the extinction spectra and field distribution of three types of dimers. In the paper we provide a systematic analysis of the optical response of different nanoscopic dimer structures with relatively small gap distances. A description is given about how the energy and excitation cross sections of dimer plasmons depend on nanoparticle separation. Resonance peaks of dimers show red-shift compared with single nanoparticle. Dimers formed by different single particle display distinct optical response. Interaction junctions in dimers can serve as hot spots for field enhancement. Field distribution in gaps made of two flat planes is nearly continuous. Changing gaps between two particles in dimers can tune the resonance wavelength effectively as well as different particle ensembles. Existence of sharp corners can attract and change field distribution. It is not effective volume but the effective cross-section that dominates the extinction efficiency.