https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-021-00189-8
Regular Article
Beyond Fowler–Nordheim model: harmonic generation from metallic nano-structures
College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona, 85721, Tucson, AZ, USA
Received:
27
March
2021
Accepted:
31
May
2021
Published online:
10
June
2021
Metallic structures interacting with electromagnetic fields are known to exhibit properties similar to those found in atoms and molecules, such as multi-photon and tunnel ionization. Developing this similarity beyond the electron emission current, we generalize the well-known Fowler–Nordheim model, and predict a heretofore unrecognized source of nonlinear optical response from nano-structures exposed to illumination with intense optical pulses. We find that the harmonic generation by these structures is non-perturbative in the sense that higher harmonic orders can be almost as strong as the lower orders. At the same time, the predicted spectrum is distinct from the usual high-harmonic generation in that it does not exhibit a sharp cutoff.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021
