Can Relative Permittivity of Aluminum Be Calculated from Its Plasma Frequency?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The relative permittivity of aluminum (Al) can be determined using its bulk plasma frequency, which is approximately 3.7 PHz. While metals like Al exhibit an infinite relative permittivity at DC, this value is finite at non-zero frequencies, particularly in the optical region. To calculate the desired hole diameter and geometry for nanoscale plasmonic structures, one must consider the permittivity of the substrate and the metal thickness. Ellipsometry measurements can provide accurate permittivity values for aluminum across different frequencies.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of plasma frequency and its significance in material properties
  • Familiarity with nanoscale plasmonic structures and their design considerations
  • Knowledge of ellipsometry and its application in measuring permittivity
  • Basic principles of dielectrics and their behavior at different frequencies
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the application of ellipsometry in measuring the permittivity of metals
  • Study the relationship between plasma frequency and relative permittivity in metals
  • Explore design techniques for nanoscale plasmonic hole-grid structures
  • Investigate the dielectric response of aluminum as a function of frequency
USEFUL FOR

Researchers and engineers in the fields of materials science, optical engineering, and nanotechnology, particularly those focused on plasmonic applications and the design of optical filters.

minerva
Messages
92
Reaction score
6
Consider a metal such as Al.
How do we look up or determine the relative permittivity of the metal?

Suppose we have some known incident frequency, say about c/500nm for visible light.
We can look up the bulk plasma frequency (3.7 PHz for Al), can it be calculated from that?

For context, what I want to calculate is the desired hole diameter and geometry as a function of the desired filter centre wavelength, in a nanoscale plasmonic hole-grid structure like this.

https://www.intechopen.com/books/pl...ce-plasmon-polaritons-in-cmos-digital-imaging

We know the metal thickness, want to design the appropriate hole spacing and diameter, know the metal chosen, and know the permittivity of the substrate (glass etc) material.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Useful nucleus
Physics news on Phys.org
minerva said:
Consider a metal such as Al.
How do we look up or determine the relative permittivity of the metal?

Suppose we have some known incident frequency, say about c/500nm for visible light.
We can look up the bulk plasma frequency (3.7 PHz for Al), can it be calculated from that?

For context, what I want to calculate is the desired hole diameter and geometry as a function of the desired filter centre wavelength, in a nanoscale plasmonic hole-grid structure like this.

https://www.intechopen.com/books/pl...ce-plasmon-polaritons-in-cmos-digital-imaging

We know the metal thickness, want to design the appropriate hole spacing and diameter, know the metal chosen, and know the permittivity of the substrate (glass etc) material.

It has been a while since I touched the topic of dielectrics. But as far as I recall, the relative permittivity of a metal is essentially infinite. It is finite, however, for an insulator/semiconductor.
 
I think there are some papers reporting measurements on the dielectric response of aluminum as a function of frequency.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Useful nucleus said:
It has been a while since I touched the topic of dielectrics. But as far as I recall, the relative permittivity of a metal is essentially infinite.
Not in the optical region.
 
Useful nucleus said:
It has been a while since I touched the topic of dielectrics. But as far as I recall, the relative permittivity of a metal is essentially infinite
That's true only at DC. At non-zero frequency, the permittivity is finite, see for example http://muri.lci.kent.edu/References/NIM_Papers/Permittivity/1983_Ordal_optical.pdf

minerva said:
How do we look up or determine the relative permittivity of the metal?
If I remember correctly (it has been many years ago) you can get permittivity numbers from ellipsometry measurements.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
8K