Understanding and controlling light–matter interactions at the nanoscale is a central challenge in modern physics, chemistry, and materials science. In particular, plasmonic nanostructures and graphene-based systems enable extreme enhancement and confinement of electromagnetic fields, opening new opportunities for advanced spectroscopies and molecular sensing. However, a quantitative and predictive theoretical description of these phenomena, capable of treating realistic nanostructures and complex molecular environments, has long remained out of reach.
The overall objective of the project was to develop a new generation of theoretical models and computational tools for the accurate simulation of plasmonic and surface-enhanced spectroscopies in realistic systems. The project aimed to bridge the gap between quantum-mechanical descriptions of molecules and large-scale classical models of nanostructured substrates, enabling simulations of unprecedented size and realism.
By the end of the project, these objectives have been fully achieved. The project has delivered original multiscale theoretical frameworks, efficient numerical implementations, and robust software tools that allow predictive simulations of plasmonic nanostructures containing up to millions of atoms, providing a solid and lasting foundation for future developments in enhanced spectroscopy and nanophotonics.