Self-consistent linear-optical response of thin metal films

This paper investigates the self-consistent linear response of thin metal films to the incident plane electromagnetic wave. The transversal motion of the electrons confined in the metal film of nanometer thickness is quantized. In general case the electromagnetic field varies significantly across the metal film. As a result the optical response of thin metal films is substantially nonlocal and cannot be adequately described with the help of dielectric permittivity and multipole expansion of electronic response. It has to be treated on basis of an integral relations between electronic response and applied field.