Metal-insulator nanocomposites which act optically like homogeneous conductors

Geoffrey B. Smith; Angus R. Gentle; Abbas I. Maaroof

doi:10.1117/1.2711706

1 February 2007 Metal-insulator nanocomposites which act optically like homogeneous conductors

Geoffrey B. Smith, Angus R. Gentle, Abbas I. Maaroof

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Nanophotonics, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 013507 (February 2007). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2711706

Abstract

Abstract. Conductor-insulator nanocomposites in which the conductor percolates can have optical responses at longer wavelengths like dense conductors with an effective plasma frequency wp*. This applies at wavelengths where the Bergman spectral function F for permittivity varies sufficiently slowly with wavelength. wp* can be engineered by varying the components, the nanostructure's topology, or the dielectric volume fraction f. The homogenized conductor acts like a dense conductor whose charge carriers have effective mass meff*. Results are presented for wp*(f) and meff*(f) using the Maxwell Garnett (MG) and Bruggemann (BR) models for spheres and aligned ellipsoids. In the BR case meff*(f) at the percolation concentration is singular. Example wp* data for spheres and ellipsoids are given which match predictions. Anisotropy in effective mass is considered, such that effective plasma frequency can depend strongly on polarisation direction of incident light.

Citation Download Citation

Geoffrey B. Smith, Angus R. Gentle, and Abbas I. Maaroof "Metal-insulator nanocomposites which act optically like homogeneous conductors," Journal of Nanophotonics 1(1), 013507 (1 February 2007). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2711706

Published: 1 February 2007

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available