Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
Metal-coated particles of nanometer dimensions can exhibit unusual optical properties due to the local-field enhancement mechanism. However, the properties are affected by uncontrollable factors that degrade the expected performance. In this paper we report theoretical results of coating thickness variations and diffuse interface effects on the optical absorption and the nonlinear optical response of particles with a CdS core and a silver coating. The linear and nonlinear optical properties are discussed within the context of the effective medium theory for small volume fractions.