Abstract
Historically, the methods used to describe the electromagnetic response of random, three-dimensional (3D), metal-dielectric composites (MDCs) have been limited to approximations such as effective-medium theories that employ easily-obtained, macroscopic parameters. Full-wave numerical simulations such as finite-difference time domain (FDTD) calculations are difficult for random MDCs due to the fact that the nanoscale geometry of a random composite is generally difficult to ascertain after fabrication. We have developed a fabrication method for creating semicontinuous metal films with arbitrary thicknesses and a modeling technique for such films using realistic geometries. We extended our two-dimensional simulation method to obtain realistic geometries of 3D MDC samples, and we obtained the detailed near-and far-field electromagnetic responses of such composites using FDTD calculations. Our simulation results agree quantitatively well with the experimentally measured far-field spectra of the real samples. (C) 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.3590208]
Keywords
metal-dielectric films; three-dimensional composites; finite-difference time domain modeling; cermets; ENHANCED INFRARED-ABSORPTION; ADAPTIVE SILVER FILMS; ORGANIC SOLAR-CELLS; CERMET THIN-FILMS; STRUCTURAL-PROPERTIES; OPTICAL-PROPERTIES; NANOSTRUCTURES; NANOCLUSTERS; SPECTROSCOPY; PERCOLATION
DOI
10.1117/1.3590208
Citation
J. Nanophoton. 5(1), 051513 (May 23, 2011). doi:10.1117/1.3590208
Date of this Version
5-23-2011
Recommended Citation
Thoreson, Mark D.; Fang, Jieran R.; Kildishev, Alexander V.; Prokopeva, Ludmila J.; Nyga, Piotr; Chettiar, Uday K.; Shalaev, Vladimir M.; and Drachev, Vladimir P., "Fabrication and realistic modeling of three-dimensional metal-dielectric composites" (2011). Birck and NCN Publications. Paper 1011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.3590208
Comments
Mark D. Thoreson ; Jieran Fang ; Alexander V. Kildishev ; Ludmila J. Prokopeva ; Piotr Nyga ; Uday K. Chettiar ; Vladimir M. Shalaev ; Vladimir P. Drachev, "Fabrication and realistic modeling of three-dimensional metal-dielectric composites," Journal of Nanophotonics, Volume 5, Issue 1, Article 051513. 23 May2011.
Copyright 2011 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic electronic or print reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.3590208