Date of Graduation
5-2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Physics
Advisor/Mentor
Herzog, Joseph
Committee Member/Reader
Spearot, Douglas
Committee Member/Second Reader
Roe, Larry
Committee Member/Third Reader
Stewart, Gay
Committee Member/Fourth Reader
Nutter, Darin
Abstract
Plasmonic devices have gained popularity recently due to their unique ability to focus light to scales smaller than the diffraction limit and amplify the intensity of incident light. One such plasmonic device is the gold nanowire, a simple geometry that can be fabricated into a variety of geometric patterns. The aim of this project was to determine the effect of nanowire geometry on its maximum optical enhancement. For this purpose, the plasmonic optical enhancement properties of single gold nanowires and triple nanowire arrays were investigated using finite element method simulations. The results of the simulations indicate a significant effect on the optical enhancement of both the thickness and width of the nanowires. From the simulation data, an equation for each geometry (single and triple array) was found that relates the dimensions and incident wavelength to the optical enhancement. These equations can be used while designing nanowires to optimize the dimensions and provide the maximum possible optical enhancement.
Citation
Saylor, C. C. (2015). Computational Analysis of the Maximum Optical Enhancement of Gold Nanowires and Nanowire Arrays. Physics Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/physuht/2