A lot of active photonics research is based on the concept of plasmons, which is an electronic excitation of a metal surface or particle by light and shows a distinct resonant behaviour which, in case of nanoparticles depends mainly on size and shape. However, the high damping losses of metal nanoparticles are a severe drawback when it comes to applications. As this is an intrinsic problem of metals it cannot be overcome by clever design.

Theoretical propositions have been put forward stating these losses could be lowered or even compensated by the introduction of gain materials. These ideas can even be taken a few steps further to the possibility of active plasmonic devices like the spaser proposed by Stockman and Bergman in 2003.

The scope of my thesis is to study the interaction of plasmonic nanoparticles with different gain materials, this includes both theoretical modelling an simulation of the combined system and experimentally investigating the effect expected like enhanced photoluminescence. It is also part of the project to keep in mind suggestions for the application of active plasmonic and take steps to the development of a spaser or similar devices.