Adsorption-induced fluctuations and noise in plasmonic metamaterial devices

Abstract

The investigation represented here is focused on fundamental intrinsic fluctuations caused by the adsorption and desorption (a-d) of surrounding particles on the active surface in plasmonic metamaterial devices. The variance and relative fluctuations in adsorption-desorption dynamics are studied based on two different kinetic models (pseudo-first order kinetics and second order kinetics). The limits of the applicability of the pseudo-first order model are determined, thus ensuring the use of the vast mathematical heritage developed for linear systems in calculation of a-d noise, while at the same time speeding up and simplifying calculations. An approach is proposed to assess adsorption in a metamaterial sensor using an effective parameter dependent on the properties of the metamaterial unit cell.