Electron System Thermodynamics: Plasmon Energies 5-30eV

In summary, plasmon energies in the range of 5-30 eV are much higher than the typical thermal energy of 25 meV at room temperature. Therefore, plasmons are unlikely to be thermally excited and do not contribute to thermodynamic properties such as heat capacity.
  • #1
mcodesmart
34
0
I need an explantion of the following description of plasmon,

"Plasmon energies in the range of 5-30eV for electron systems of metallic densities,consequently they play no role in determining the thermodynamic properties of the electron system."

What kind of thermodynamic properties are being referred to here? What are the thermodynamic properties of an electron system? Is this like the electron free energy?
 
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  • #2
Things like heat capacity are thermodynamic properties.

Basically all the author wants to say is:
The typical thermal energy at room temperature is 25 meV. The plasmon energy is somewhere between 5 and 30 eV. That is a factor of at least 200 in between, making it very unlikely that plasmons are excited thermally. Therefore they will also not contribute to thermodynamic properties like heat capacity.
 

1. What is electron system thermodynamics?

Electron system thermodynamics is the study of the physical and chemical properties of a system of electrons, including their interactions with each other and their surroundings.

2. What are plasmon energies?

Plasmon energies refer to the collective oscillations of electrons in a material. These oscillations can be excited by an external energy source, such as light, and can provide information about the material's electronic properties.

3. Why are plasmon energies important in electron system thermodynamics?

Plasmon energies are important in electron system thermodynamics because they can provide valuable information about the electronic properties of a material, such as its band structure and electron density. This information is crucial in understanding the behavior of electrons and their interactions in a system.

4. What is the typical range of plasmon energies in electron system thermodynamics?

The typical range of plasmon energies in electron system thermodynamics is 5-30eV. This range covers a wide variety of materials and allows for the study of different types of electronic behavior and interactions.

5. How are plasmon energies measured in electron system thermodynamics?

Plasmon energies can be measured using various experimental techniques, such as electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and optical spectroscopy. These techniques involve exciting the electrons in a material and measuring the energy of the emitted electrons or photons, respectively.

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