Theory for the nonlinear optical response of a nonspherical metal cluster

Abstract

Using classical electrodynamics we determine the higher harmonic radiation by a nonspherical metal cluster in form of a matrix formalism. Extending the theory for the source of the higher harmonic radiation for spherical metal clusters as introduced by Östling et al. [Z. Phys. D {\bf 28}, 169 (1993)] we calculate the sources for nonspherical particles. Employing these sources we develop the nonlinear Mie theory and determine the radiated higher harmonic fields generated by the cluster. Our theory is valid for arbitrary shape and arbitrary complex refractive index for cluster sizes much smaller and comparable to the wavelength of the incident light.