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arXiv · 1810.04984

Quantum spill-out in nanometer-thin gold slabs: Effect on plasmon mode index and plasmonic absorption

Enok J. H. Skjølstrup·Thomas Søndergaard·Thomas G. Pedersen
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Abstract

A quantum mechanical approach and local response theory are applied to study plasmons propagating in nanometer-thin gold slabs sandwiched between different dielectrics. The metal slab supports two different kinds of modes, classified as long-range and short-range plasmons. Quantum spill-out is found to significantly increase the imaginary part of their mode indices, and, surprisingly, even for slabs wide enough to approach bulk the increase is 20%. This is explained in terms of enhanced plasmonic absorption, which mainly takes place at narrow peaks located near the slab surface.

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Enok J. H. Skjølstrup, Thomas Søndergaard, Thomas G. Pedersen. 2018-10-11. Quantum spill-out in nanometer-thin gold slabs: Effect on plasmon mode index and plasmonic absorption. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.99.155427

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