Spectral theory of the Neumann-Poincar\'e operator on multi-layer structures and analysis of plasmon mode splitting

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a general mathematical framework for analyzing electostatics within multi-layered metamaterial structures. The multi-layered structure can be designed by nesting complementary negative and regular materials together, and it can be easily achieved by truncating bulk metallic material in a specific configuration. Using layer potentials and symmetrization techniques, we establish the perturbation formula in terms of Neumann-Poincar\'e (NP) operator for general multi-layered medium, and obtain the spectral properties of the NP operator, which demonstrates that the number of plasmon modes increases with the number of layers. Based on Fourier series, we present an exact matrix representation of the NP operator in an apparently unsymmetrical structure, exemplified by multi-layered confocal ellipses. By highly intricate and delicate analysis, we establish a handy algebraic framework for studying the splitting of the plasmon modes within multi-layered structures. Moreover, the asymptotic profiles of the plasmon modes are also obtained. This framework helps reveal the effects of material truncation and rotational symmetry breaking on the splitting of the plasmon modes, thereby inducing desired resonances and enabling the realization of customized applications.