Theory

This chapter outlines the basic concepts and methods of nano optics, laying the theoretical groundwork for the chapters to follow. We begin with classical electrodynamics, describing light through Maxwell’s equations and matter within a macroscopic framework. We introduce the fundamentals of light—matter interactions and polaritonics involving metallic or dielectric nanocavities, including Mie theory, classical and mesoscopic plasmonics. Finally, we discuss light—matter interactions under the scope of strong and weak coupling of polaritons with electronic transitions in matter. We conclude this introduction with a brief outline of the numerical method used in the fifth chapter of the thesis.