The goal of IRG #3 is to advance the understanding of molecular plasmonics at the single nanoparticle and single molecule levels and to develop the new research tools necessary to accomplish this. The group is working to control and manipulate light on the nanometer-length scale as mediated by localized and propagating surface plasmons. The major thrusts of this effort include:

1. developing new, anisotropic nanomaterials,
2. creating passive and active plasmonic devices,
3. developing coherent control strategies to manipulate plasmons within nanoparticle arrays,
4. understanding the coupling mechanism between molecular chromophores and surface plasmons, and
5. understanding the coupling between plasmons and other nano- and micro-scale resonantors.