An S-matrix Formalism for the Nonclassical Optical Response of Plasmonic Sphere Aggregates

A computational method for the scattering of light by multiple nonclassical plasmonic nanospheres, each of which has multiple (non-)concentric dielectric or metallic layers, is presented. The electromagnetic (EM) response of the free electrons in the metals is described by three popular mesoscopic models: the nonlocal hydrodynamic Drude model (NLHDM) and its diffusive variant, namely the generalized nonlocal optical response (GNOR) model, as well as the surface response model (SRM). The main equation behind the method is set up by detailing the evaluation of the S-matrix for each individual spherical interface and the interactions amongst the interfaces. The algorithm is numerically validated by comparing with an in-house boundary element method (BEM) solver for a spherical nanoparticle with two smaller embedded spheres, and physically checked on a trimer configuration, where the responses from the NLHDM and SRM are contrasted with the local response model (LRM). In both cases a very good agreement is seen regarding frequency shifts and field enhancements.