Spatio-temporal Modeling of Lasing Action in Core–Shell Metallic Nanoparticles

Nanoscale laser sources based on single metallic nanoparticles (spasers) have attracted significant interest for their fundamental implications and technological potential. Here we theoretically investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics of lasing action in core-shell metallic nanoparticles that include optically pumped four-level gain media. By using detailed semiclassical simulations based on a time-domain generalization of the finite-element method, we study the evolution of the lasing dynamics when going from a spherical case to an elongated nanorod configuration. Our calculations show that there exists an optimal nanoparticle elongation that exhibits significantly improved lasing threshold and slope efficiency over those obtained for its spherical counterpart. These results are accounted for in terms of a coupled-mode theory analysis of the variation with elongation of the light confinement properties of localized surface plasmons. This work could be of importance for further development of nanoscale light sources based on localized surface plasmon resonances.