Method for extracting the complex dielectric function of nanospheres in a water matrix from surface-plasmon resonance data

The problem of the retrieval of the complex dielectric function of nanoparticles having multiple spectral features is addressed. It is shown that the complex dielectric function of nanoparticles that are in a water,matrix can be obtained with a maximum entropy model along with surface-plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The present analysis provides means to identify nanoparticles and to gain information on their concentration, which are important factors in the monitoring of nanoparticles in liquid phase. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.