Using the extended Hubbard model and sum-over-state method, we have ca
lculated the linear polarizability alpha and the third-order nonlinear
polarizability gamma for carbon nanotubes with finite lengths. We fin
d that the chiral symmetry of nanotubes with finite length has a great
effect on their optical properties. For example, the finite length (n
,m) tubes with n-m being not a multiple of 3, will have smaller alpha
and much smaller gamma values than other finite length tubes.