Plasmons in nanostructures with applications to metamaterial science

A numerical and an analytical model allowing the calculation of plasmonic resonances in finite systems are presented and compared. Both models are applied to provide a quantum-mechanical study of the resonances of a split-ring resonator serving as a building block in metamaterial science. In order to describe a macroscopic medium, the interaction among the rings is analyzed and a macroscopic medium theory was developed. Guidelines for the construction of negative index materials are given.