Calculation of the surface-plasmon dispersion relation

The surface-plasmon dispersion relation for a metal is computed within the quantummechanical random-phase approximation by the use of a variational principle. The metal surface is approximated by a step potential, and the calculation is carried out for electronic densities and work functions that co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surface science 1973-01, Vol.37, p.48-58
Main Authors: Beck, D.E., Celli, V.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The surface-plasmon dispersion relation for a metal is computed within the quantummechanical random-phase approximation by the use of a variational principle. The metal surface is approximated by a step potential, and the calculation is carried out for electronic densities and work functions that correspond to the experimental values found for Al, Be, Mg, and Na. The dispersion relation is compared to the experimental results for Al and Mg and found to be in much better agreement with experiment than the relation computed for a semi-infinite electron gas. For all the metals considered the dispersion relation exhibits a minimum for non-zero momenta; this implies that processes involving two surface plasmons could measurably affect the optical properties of metal surfaces.
ISSN:0039-6028
1879-2758
DOI:10.1016/0039-6028(73)90303-8