Scattering, Absorption, and Emission of Light by Thin Metal Wires

Abstract

Scattering, absorption, and emission of light by thin metal wires are studied in a theory where the plasma properties of the metal are taken into account. The wires are assumed to have a diameter of the same order of magnitude as the free-space wavelength of the light and special attention is paid to polarization phenomena. Experiments on silver wires having a diameter down to 2000 \AA{} have been carried out and compared with the theory. A degree of polarization of about 50% is observed for the light emitted by thin wires.