Spatial and angular distributions of third harmonic generation from metal surfaces

Abstract

Third harmonic generation from planar and spherical metal surfaces is studied theoretically through the standard Green function method, so that the results are not affected by the uncertainty associated with previous simplified models. In general the pattern of the non-linear scattering loosely resembles the pattern of Mie scattering. The strong backward scattering is uniquely related to the non-linear process. These results differ significantly from the predictions of the surface charge model.