title: Observation of intrinsic size effects in the optical response of individual gold nanoparticles.
abstract: The photothermal heterodyne imaging method is used to study for the first time the absorption spectra of individual gold nanoparticles with diameters down to 5 nm. Intrinsic size effects that result in a broadening of the surface plasmon resonance are unambiguously observed. Dispersions in the peak energies and homogeneous widths of the single-particle resonances are revealed. The experimental results are analyzed within the frame of Mie theory.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Physique Moléculaire Optique et Hertzienne, CNRS (UMR 5798) et Université Bordeaux I, 351, cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berciaud
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cognet
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tamarat
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lounis
mesh_terms: D006046:Gold / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008027:Light; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold