Efficient modal-expansion discrete-dipole approximation: Application to the simulation of optical extinction and electron energy-loss spectroscopies

An efficient procedure is introduced for the calculation of the optical response of individual and coupled metallic nanoparticles in the framework of the discrete-dipole approximation (DDA). We introduce a modal expansion in the basis set of discrete dipoles and show that a few suitably selected modes are sufficient to compute optical spectra with reasonable accuracy, thus reducing the required numerical effort relative to other DDA approaches. Our method offers a natural framework for the study of localized plasmon modes, including plasmon hybridization. As a proof of concept, we investigate optical extinction and electron energy-loss spectra of monomers, dimers, and quadrumers formed by flat silver squares. This method should find application to the previously prohibited simulation of complex particle arrays.