Numerical considerations for the finite-difference time-domain modeling of scattering by plasmonic nanocylinders

Numerical modeling of silver cylinders is examined using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique.Numerical experiments are performed and the scattering cross section of a single cylinder is predicted and compared to the analytical solution. It is demonstrated how the coarseness of the model can affect the quality of the results. The same experiments are performed in the case of an array consisting of three cylinders. The response of the structure is examined, and the significance of the cell size for the accurate prediction of the plasmon resonance red shift is demonstrated.