Abstract
A link between the resonant cumulative field enhancement experienced by a chain of plasmonic nanoparticles in a light field and the orientation of the chain with respect to the field is obtained. We calculate analytically the optical torque and the equilibrium configuration and we show how stable orientations are triggered by the geometric resonance conditions. Analytical predictions are checked using numerical calculations based on the coupled dipoles method (CDA) for the particular case of a chain of silver nanoparticles. The reported resonance driven optical torque allows for a tuning of the orientation of the chain depending on radiation's wavelength.