A gold nanoparticle array on glass substrates was fabricated by thermal annealing (400 °C, 60 min) in vacuum ( P ∼ 1.3 Pa) of thin gold films with a thickness of 6, 12, and 25 nm obtained by DC magnetron sputtering. The structure and surface morphology were studied by electron and atomic probe microscopes. The sizes of Au nanoparticles (NP) were experimentally determined. Transmission and absorption spectra were measured by UV/vis spectrophotometry. The Au nanoparticle extinction, scattering, and absorption cross-sections were analyzed and absorption spectra were simulated with the assumption of a spheroidal form of NP and quasistatic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]