A comparison of techniques used to simulate the scattering of electromagnetic radiation by metallic nanostructures

作者：Parsons J^*; Burrows C P; Sambles J R; Barnes W L

来源：Journal of Modern Optics, 2010, 57(5): 356-365.

DOI：10.1080/09500341003628702

• localised surface-plasmon
• Mie theory
• T-Matrix
• discrete-dipole approximation
• finite-element
• finite-difference time-domain

A comparison is presented of a number of simulation techniques that are used to compute the scattering of electromagnetic radiation by metallic nanostructures. The simulation techniques considered here are Mie theory, the T-Matrix null-field method, the discrete-dipole approximation, the finite-element method and the finite-difference time-domain method. The suitability of each technique is compared in terms of the accuracy, computation time and the range of geometries to which it can be applied. Using each technique, we perform example calculations by simulating the optical response of an 80 nm diameter Au sphere in vacuum. Our main conclusions are summarised in tabulated form, so that the findings presented in this article may serve as a useful reference guide to those looking for suitable numerical tools to model the optical response of metallic nanostructures.

• 出版日期2010