Halas, Naomi J2016-01-252016-01-252014-122014-10-22December 2Hogan, Nathaniel J. "Multiparticle Optical and Thermal Effects in Illuminated Solutions of Plasmonic Nanoparticles." (2014) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/88128">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/88128</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/88128Plasmonic nanoparticles are found in a number of applications as efficient converters of optical energy into heat, e.g. cancer therapy of nanoparticle-laden tumors. More recently, aqueous solutions of plasmonic nanoparticles have proven the ability to produce steam with relatively high efficiencies upon solar illumination. We show in this report through modeling of the light transport in nanoparticle solutions that this effect originates in the optical properties of the nanoparticles. Strong optical scattering leads to multiparticle interactions that can concentrate light resulting in large temperature increases in the focused region. This model can be extended to all systems of dense nanoparticles in which light to heat conversion is crucial, e.g. photothermal cancer therapy and materials processing.application/pdfengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.solar steamplasmonmultiple light scatteringThesis2016-01-25