Aluminum (2 of 2) (IMAGE) Rice University Caption When an electromagnetic wave (left) hits a nanomatryushka (center and right) -- a solid core inside a hollow shell -- the size of the gap determines the strength of the plasmonic response. If the gap is sufficiently small, quantum tunneling through the gap allows plasmons to resonate as though the core and shell are a single particle, dramatically changing their response. Credit Vikram Kulkarni/Rice University Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.