Finding surface plasmons in transmission problems
Abstract: Wave scattering is ubiquitous in nature, it is one of the most important phenomena in physics. One of the key objects in the study of scattering theory are the so-called resonances. I will briefly talk about classical pictures of obstacle scattering resonances and give a mathematical description of transmission problems. Then I will discuss how geometry and refraction indices influence the distribution of resonances. Obstacles with negative index of refraction exhibit a new type of resonances called (surface) plasmons. We will discuss when they are present for non-trapping obstacles and, if time allows, I will briefly go over how Jeff Galkowski and I catch plasmons.