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Particles and Fields

EPJ B Colloquium - Femto-nano-optics: ultrafast nonlinearity of metal nanoparticles

Pump-probe optical spectroscopy setup for single nanoparticle experiments

A deep understanding of the internal dynamics of metal nanoparticles, through the measurement of their time resolved optical response, requires detailed modeling of the physical processes involved. This EPJ B Colloquium explores the nonlinear ultrafast optical response of metal nanoparticles which can be obtained experimentally in ensembles and single nanoparticles, through femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy.

The relationship between this response and the electronic and lattice kinetics of the metal is studied using a model that describes the wavelength and time-dependent modifications of the material's dielectric function. This model is useful to study single silver nanospheres and gold nanorods, as well as ensembles of noble metal nanoparticles and metal–semiconductor nano-hybrids.

The quantitative analysis presented in this Colloquium enables also the elucidation of the physical mechanisms at the origin of ultrafast nonlinearities in confined metals at different timescales.

Editors-in-Chief
E. Dudas, M. Elsing, F. Forti, J. Monroe, D.J. Schwarz and G. Zanderighi

I am very grateful for the great professionality and efforts that all the staff of the EJPC makes in order to attend all the necessities of the authors.

Diego Julio Cirilo-Lombardo

ISSN: 1434-6052 (Electronic Edition)

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