Mathematical and numerical analysis of a nonlocal Drude model in nanoplasmonics

Abstract: In this paper, we consider the frequency-domain Maxwell's equations coupled to a nonlocal Drude model which describes the nonlocal optical response in metallic nanostructures. We prove the existence and uniqueness of weak solutions to the coupled equations. A Galerkin finite element method based on the Raviart--Thomas and N\'{e}d\'{e}lec elements is proposed to solve the equations and the associated error estimates are given. This is the first work on the mathematical and numerical analysis of this model. Numerical examples are presented to verify our theoretical analysis.