Résumé: We study the optical anisotropy in noble metal (110) surfaces through interband transitions based on energy bands calculated through the ab initio self-consistent method of linear muffin tin orbitals. Our results show that there is indeed an important anisotropy between the imaginary parts of the dielectric constants e) 2 (v) and e2d(v) perpendicular and parallel to the surface polarization of light, but also between ex2(v) and ey2 (v) when light is polarized in [11:0] and [001] crystal directions. This latter anisotropy has been measured experimentally. Here we give its theoretical origin.

Langue: Anglais