Magnetochirality in hierarchical magnetoplasmonic clusters

We show theoretically that finite hierarchical assemblies of clusters consisting magnetic (magnetite) and plasmonic (gold) nanoparticles show dramatically increased values of the magnetochiral dichroism compared to those measured in conventional materials exhibiting this phenomenon (liquid molecular systems, anisotropic crystals and chiral ferromagnets). These values are attributed to the strong interaction of the magnetite nanoparticles within the clusters as well as by the excitation of surface-plasmons in the gold nanoparticles. Along with the magnetochiral dichroism, in the studied hierarchical magnetoplasmonic designs, magneto-optical phenomena such as magnetic dichroism and Faraday rotation are also enhanced relative to the case of purely magnetic nanostructures.