Solved with COMSOL Multiphysics 4.

Optical Scattering Off a Gold

Nanosphere
Introduction
This model demonstrates the calculation of the scattering of a plane wave of light off
of a gold nanosphere. The scattering is computed for the optical frequency range, over
which gold can be modeled as a material with negative complex-valued permittivity.
The far-field pattern and the losses are computed.
PMC symmetry plane

Gold sphere

PEC symmetry plane

Figure 1: A gold sphere illuminated by a plane wave. Due to symmetry, only one-quarter
of the sphere has to be modeled.

Model Definition
A gold sphere of radius r = 100 nm is illuminated by a plane wave, as shown in
Figure 1. The optical frequency range, corresponding to a free space wavelength of
400 nm 700 nm, is simulated. At these frequencies, gold can be modeled as having
a complex valued permittivity, with real and imaginary components. The complex

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permittivity is expressed as r = . The real and imaginary part of the complex

permittivity are extracted using the complex refractive index in Ref. 1. Over the
frequency range of interest, it is possible to compute the skin depth via
1
= -------------------------2
Re k 0 r

(1)

where k0 is the free space wavenumber, and r is the complex-valued relative

permittivity. The skin depth is shown in Table 1, and ranges from 27 nm 44 nm. The
skin depth is evaluated with assumption of plane wave incidence over flat surface, so it
is not directly applicable on the gold sphere in the model.
TABLE 1: COMPLEX DIELECTRIC CONSTANT AND SKIN DEPTH FOR GOLD

Frequency (THz)

Skin Depth (nm)

424

-16.8177

1.0668

27.4

453

-13.6482

1.0352

28.5

485

-10.6619

1.3742

30.1

514

-8.1127

1.6605

32.5

545

-5.8421

2.1113

35.7

574

-3.9462

2.5804

40.0

603

-2.2783

3.8126

43.2

634

-1.7027

4.8444

40.7

663

-1.7590

5.2826

37.6

694

-1.6922

5.6492

35.3

723

-1.7022

5.7174

33.7

752

-1.6494

5.7389

32.5

424

-16.818

1.0668

27.4

Due to the symmetry of the problem, only one-quarter of the sphere is modeled. A
region of air around the sphere is also modeled, of with equal to half the wavelength
in free space. A perfectly matched layer (PML) domain is outside of the air domain and
acts as an absorber of the scattered field. The PML should not be within the reactive
near-field of the scatterer, placing it a half-wavelength away is usually sufficient. The
far field radiation pattern and the heat losses are computed.

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Results and Discussion

The far-field radiation pattern is plotted in Figure 2. These show that, at short
wavelengths, a single gold sphere will scatter light forward, in the direction of
propagation of the incident light. At longer wavelengths, the scattered fields from the
sphere look more as the radiation pattern of a dipole antenna.
The heat losses, plotted in Figure 3, show that the particle preferentially absorbs the
shorter wavelengths. The radius of the sphere can also be varied to see how the
absorption depends upon the geometry.

Figure 2: The far-field radiation pattern in the E-plane (blue) and H-plane (green)
when wavelength is 700 nm.

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Figure 3: The resistive heating losses in the gold sphere.

Reference
1. P.B. Johnson and R.W. Christy, Optical Constants of the Noble Metals, Phys. Rev.
B, vol. 6, pp. 43704379, 1972.

Model Library path: Wave_Optics_Module/Optical_Scattering/

scattering_nanosphere

Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.
NEW

1 In the New window, click the Model Wizard button.

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MODEL WIZARD

1 In the Model Wizard window, click the 3D button.

2 In the Select physics tree, select Optics>Wave Optics>Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain (ewfd).
3 Click the Add button.
4 Click the Study button.
5 In the tree, select Preset Studies>Frequency Domain.
6 Click the Done button.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS

Define some parameters that are useful for setting up the mesh and the study.

Parameters
1 On the Home toolbar, click Parameters.
2 In the Parameters settings window, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Name

Expression

Value

Description

r0

100[nm]

1.000E-7 m

Sphere radius

lda

400[nm]

4.000E-7 m

Wavelength

f0

c_const/lda

7.495E14 1/s

Frequency

t_air

lda/2

2.000E-7 m

Thickness of air around sphere

t_pml

lda/2

2.000E-7 m

Thickness of PML

h_max

lda/6

6.667E-8 m

Maximum element size, air

Here, c_const is a predefined COMSOL constant for the speed of light.

Add two interpolation functions for the real and imaginary parts, respectively, of the
complex relative dielectric constant (permittivity) as functions of the frequency.

Interpolation 1
1 On the Home toolbar, click Functions and choose Global>Interpolation.
2 In the Interpolation settings window, locate the Definition section.
3 From the Data source list, choose File.
4 Click the Browse button.
5 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
scattering_nanosphere_er_interpolation.txt.

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6 Click the Import button.

7 In the Function name edit field, type eps_real.
8 Locate the Units section. In the Arguments edit field, type Hz.
9 In the Function edit field, type 1.

Interpolation 2
1 On the Home toolbar, click Functions and choose Global>Interpolation.
2 In the Interpolation settings window, locate the Definition section.
3 From the Data source list, choose File.
4 Click the Browse button.
5 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file
scattering_nanosphere_ei_interpolation.txt.

6 Click the Import button.

7 In the Function name edit field, type eps_imag.
8 Locate the Units section. In the Arguments edit field, type Hz.
9 In the Function edit field, type 1.
GEOMETRY 1

Create a sphere with layers. The outermost layer represents the PMLs and the core
represents the gold sphere. The middle layer is the air domain.

Sphere 1
1 On the Geometry toolbar, click Sphere.
2 In the Sphere settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Radius edit field, type r0+t_air+t_pml.
4 Click to expand the Layers section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Layer name

Thickness (m)

Layer 1

t_pml

Layer 2

t_air

5 Click the Build Selected button.

6 Click the Wireframe Rendering button on the Graphics toolbar to get a better view

of the interior parts.

Then, add a block intersecting one-quarter of the sphere.

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Block 1
1 On the Geometry toolbar, click Block.
2 In the Block settings window, locate the Size section.
3 In the Width edit field, type 2*(r0+t_air+t_pml).
4 In the Depth edit field, type 2*(r0+t_air+t_pml).
5 In the Height edit field, type 2*(r0+t_air+t_pml).
6 Locate the Position section. In the x edit field, type -(r0+t_air+t_pml).
7 Click the Build Selected button.

Generate the quarter sphere by intersecting two objects.

Intersection 1
1 On the Geometry toolbar, click Intersection.
2 Select the objects sph1 and blk1 only.
3 Click the Build All Objects button.

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4 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.

DEFINITIONS

Add a variable for the total heat losses in the gold sphere computed as a volume integral
of resistive losses. First, add an integration coupling operator for the volume integral
of the gold sphere.

Integration 1
1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Component Couplings and choose Integration.
2 In the Integration settings window, locate the Operator Name section.
3 In the Operator name edit field, type int_L.
4 Select the gold sphere (Domain 3) only.

Variables 1
1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Local Variables.
2 In the Variables settings window, locate the Variables section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
Name

Expression

Unit

Description

l_gold

int_L(ewfd.Qrh)

Heat losses

Here, the ewfd. prefix gives the correct physics-interface scope for the resistive
losses.

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ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, FREQUENCY DOMAIN

Now set up the physics. You solve the model for the scattered field, so it needs
background electric field (E-field) information. The background plane wave is
traveling in the positive x direction, with the electric field polarized along the z-axis.
The default boundary condition is perfect electric conductor, which applies to all
exterior boundaries including the boundaries perpendicular to the background E-field
polarization.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 click Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain.
2 In the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain settings window, locate the Settings

section.
3 From the Solve for list, choose Scattered field.
4 Specify the Eb vector as
0

exp(-j*ewfd.k0*x)

Apply a user-defined relative dielectric constant on the gold sphere. The constant can
be complex with the real and imaginary parts generated by interpolating with the given
tables.

Wave Equation, Electric 2

1 On the Physics toolbar, click Domains and choose Wave Equation, Electric.
2 In the Wave Equation, Electric settings window, locate the Electric Displacement Field

section.
3 From the Electric displacement field model list, choose Relative permittivity.

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4 Select Domain 3 only.

5 From the r list, choose User defined. In the associated edit field, type
eps_real(ewfd.freq)-i*eps_imag(ewfd.freq).

6 Locate the Magnetic Field section. From the r list, choose User defined. Locate the
Conduction Current section. From the list, choose User defined. Leave the default

value 0.

Scattering Boundary Condition 1

1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Scattering Boundary Condition.

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2 Select Boundaries 3 and 16 only.

DEFINITIONS

The outermost domains from the center of the sphere are the PMLs.

Perfectly Matched Layer 1 (pml1)

1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Perfectly Matched Layer.
2 Select Domains 1 and 5 only.
3 In the Perfectly Matched Layer settings window, locate the Geometry section.

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4 From the Type list, choose Spherical.

E LE C TROM A GN E TI C WAVES , FRE QU E NC Y D OM AI N

Set PMC on the boundaries parallel to the background E-field polarization.

Perfect Magnetic Conductor 1

1 On the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Perfect Magnetic Conductor.

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2 Select Boundaries 1, 4, 8, 11, and 14 only.

Far-Field Domain 1
1 On the Physics toolbar, click Domains and choose Far-Field Domain.
2 Select Domains 2 and 4 only.

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Far-Field Calculation 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1>Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency
Domain>Far-Field Domain 1 click Far-Field Calculation 1.
2 In the Far-Field Calculation settings window, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 Click Clear Selection.
4 Select Boundaries 6 and 15 only.

5 Locate the Far-Field Calculation section. Select the Symmetry in the y=0 plane check

box.
6 Select the Symmetry in the z=0 plane check box.
7 From the Symmetry type list, choose Symmetry in H (PEC).
MATERIALS

Assign air as the material for all domains. Because you set the properties of the gold
sphere explicitly in the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface, they are not
affected by this setting.
1 On the Home toolbar, click Add Material.
ADD MATERIAL

1 Go to the Add Material window.

2 In the tree, select Built-In>Air.

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3 In the Add material window, click Add to Component.

4 Close the Add material window.
MESH 1

The maximum mesh size is at most 0.2 wavelengths in free space. To evaluate the gold
sphere up to the accuracy level of the skin depth, set the maximum element size inside
the sphere around the half of the minimum skin depth over the frequency sweep range.

Size I
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 right-click Mesh 1 and choose Size..
2 In the Size settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
4 Select Domain 3 only.
5 Locate the Element Size section. Click the Custom button.
6 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. Select the Maximum element size check

box.
7 In the associated edit field, type 13.5[nm].

Size
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1>Mesh 1 click Size.
2 In the Size settings window, locate the Element Size section.
3 Click the Custom button.

Locate the Element Size Parameters section. In the Maximum element size edit field, type
h_max

Free Tetrahedral 1
1 On the Mesh toolbar, click Free Tetrahedral.
2 In the Free Tetrahedral settings window, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
4 Select Domains 24 only.

Finally, use a swept mesh for the PMLs.

Swept 1
1 On the Mesh toolbar, click Swept.
2 In the Swept settings window, locate the Domain Selection section.
3 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.

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4 Select Domains 1 and 5 only.

Distribution 1
1 Right-click Component 1>Mesh 1>Swept 1 and choose Distribution. Leave the default
Number of elements, 5.
2 On the Mesh toolbar, click Build Mesh.

STUDY 1

Parametric Sweep
1 On the Study toolbar, click Parametric Sweep.
2 In the Parametric Sweep settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Click Add.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:
Parameter names

Parameter value list

lda

range(400[nm],300[nm]/30,700[nm])

Step 1: Frequency Domain

1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Frequency Domain.
2 In the Frequency Domain settings window, locate the Study Settings section.

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3 In the Frequencies edit field, type f0.

4 In the Model Builder window, click Study 1.
5 In the Study settings window, locate the Study Settings section.
6 Clear the Generate default plots check box.
7 On the Study toolbar, click Compute.
RESULTS

Begin the results analysis and visualization by adding a selection to see the resistive
losses only inside the gold sphere.

Data Sets
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Data Sets node.
2 Right-click Solution 2 and choose Add Selection.
3 In the Selection settings window, locate the Geometric Entity Selection section.
4 From the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain.
5 Select Domain 3 only.

3D Plot Group 1
1 On the Results toolbar, click 3D Plot Group.
2 In the 3D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Solution 2.
4 On the 3D Plot Group 1 toolbar, click Volume.
5 In the Volume settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of

the Expression section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency
Domain>Heating and losses>Resistive losses (ewfd.Qrh).
6 On the 3D Plot Group 1 toolbar, click Plot.

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7 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.

The following instructions reproduce the polar plot of the far-field at the E-plane and
H-plane shown in Figure 2.

Polar Plot Group 2

1 On the Results toolbar, click Polar Plot Group.
2 In the Polar Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Solution 2.
4 From the Parameter selection (lda) list, choose Last.
5 On the Polar Plot Group 2 toolbar, click Line Graph.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.
7 Select Edges 5 and 15 only.
8 In the Line Graph settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner

of the r-axis data section. From the menu, choose Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency
Domain>Far field>Far-field norm (ewfd.normEfar).
9 Locate the Angle Data section. From the Parameter list, choose Expression.
10 In the Expression edit field, type atan2(z,x).
11 Click to expand the Title section. From the Title type list, choose None.

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12 Click to expand the Coloring and style section. Locate the Coloring and Style section.

Find the Line style subsection. From the Color list, choose Blue.
13 In the Model Builder window, under Results>Polar Plot Group 2 right-click Line Graph
1 and choose Duplicate.
14 In the Line Graph settings window, locate the Angle Data section.
15 In the Expression edit field, type atan2(-z,x).
16 Right-click Line Graph 1 and choose Duplicate.
17 In the Line Graph settings window, locate the Selection section.
18 Select the Selection focus toggle button.
19 Click Clear Selection.
20 Select Edges 6 and 21 only.
21 Locate the Angle Data section. In the Expression edit field, type atan2(y,x).
22 Locate the Coloring and Style section. Find the Line style subsection. From the Color

list, choose Green.

23 In the Model Builder window, under Results>Polar Plot Group 2 right-click Line Graph
3 and choose Duplicate.
24 In the Line Graph settings window, locate the Angle Data section.
25 In the Expression edit field, type atan2(-y,x).
26 On the Polar Plot Group 2 toolbar, click Plot.

Finish by plotting the heat losses inside the gold sphere.

1D Plot Group 3
1 On the Results, click 1D Plot Group.
2 In the 1D Plot Group settings window, locate the Data section.
3 From the Data set list, choose Solution 2.
4 On the 1D Plot Group 1 toolbar, click Global.
5 In the Global settings window, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of

the y-axis data section. From the menu, choose Definitions>Heat losses (l_gold).
6 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Axis source data list, choose Outer solutions.
7 Click to expand the Legends section. Clear the Show legends check box.
8 On the 1D Plot Group 1 toolbar, click Plot. Compare the resulting plot with Figure 3.

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