  We propose an explanation for the anomalous behaviour observed in the
relaxation dynamics of the differential optical transmission of noble-metal
nanoparticles. Using the temperature dependences of the position and the width
of the surface plasmon resonance, we obtain a strong frequency dependence in
the time evolution of the transmission close to the resonance. In particular,
our approach accounts for the slowdown found below the plasmon frequency. This
interpretation is independent of the presence of a nearby interband transition
which has been invoked previously. We therefore argue that the anomaly should
also appear for alkaline nanoparticles.
