Computation

Photon/Plasmon Interactions

Prof. Roper’s NanoBio Photonics group has developed new computational and semi-analytic solutions to Maxwell’s equations for subwavelength NP ordered structures using both approximate and finite difference difference time domain (FDTD) approaches to identify near-field EM interactions responsible for photocurrent and SERS, as well as radiative far-field photon-plasmon coupling that dwarfs near-field and induction-zone interactions. Modeling these EM interactions in 2-D and 3-D structures has identified nanoscale architectures that optimize specific research objective in a variety of applications.

Thermoplasmonics

Prof. Roper’s group has also developed comprensive models of thermoplasmonics in single-phase, multi-phase, and composite systems. These models, based on energy exchange between incoming electromagnetic radiation, coupled plasmons, phonons, and environmental energy sinks, are able to predict and describe dynamic and steady state energy profiles in a variety of prototype nano/bio plasmonic systems. These models are the basis for developing photon/plasmon-active nanomaterials for use in prototype applications in biomedicine, sustainable energy, and national security.