Elastic wave modes in crystals

[Astronuc]

In solid state theory, there are three modes for each elastic wave in crystals, one of longitudinal polarization and two of transverse polarization [1,2]. In the transverse optic (TO) mode the induced polarization is perpendicular to the wavevector, whereas in the longitudinal optic (LO) mode the electric polarization is parallel to the wavevector [2]. The Brillouin and the Raman scatterings are induced by acoustic and optical phonons in solids. Because of the random distribution of phases, the acoustic and optical phonons do not produce the regular diffraction gratings for the incident light whose frequency is quite different from that of the optic modes in the infrared region [3]. The transverse wave of the incident light couples with the TO modes near resonance frequencies, producing a polariton in crystals [2]. Interaction or coupling of the incident light with the TO modes is enhanced at the frequencies of overtones and combination bands of the fundamental lattice vibrations [2,4]

from C.Z. Tan, Optical interference in overtones and combination bands in \alpha-quartz, Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 64 (2003) 121–125.

[1] M. Born, K. Huang, Dynamical Theory of Crystal Lattices, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1988.
[2] C. Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics, Wiley, New York, 1996.
[3] H. Tanaka, T. Sonehara, S. Takagi, Phys. Rev. Lett. 5 (1997) 881.
[4] C.Z. Tan, J. Arndt, J. Chem. Phys. 112 (2000) 5970.

Relevant to some work I am doing on thermal conductivity.

 

[marlon]

Yes and plasmons are the particles (well quasi particles actually) that are associated with the longitudinal waves of the conduction electrons in a metal that has been submitted to incident EM-radiation. The electrons will start to vibrate longitudinally as a response to the incident EM-radiation (ie as a reaction to the incident oscillating electrical field actually). It is this oscillation of conduction electrons that gives rise to the phase shifted reflected light of a conductor. The plasma frequence is that frequence above which the electrons can no longer 'follow' the oscillating incident E-field. Thus the E-field is no longer reflected but passes through the medium, right ?


Polaritons are particles associated with the interaction between phonons and incident photons. Like astronuc explained, this interaction is expressed by the coupling between transverse optical phonons and the incident photons.

Plasmons and polaritons are good examples of the socalled quasi particles which are particles associated with some interaction. Do not confuse then with gauge bosons though. A quasi particle can be seen as a matter particle plus it's interactions. For example suppose you have many mutually interacting protons. In order to describe the dynamics you will need to solve one set of coupled diff equations.

This is impossible so a way out is to say well put the energies associated with the mutual interactions into the particle (for example in it's mass) and continue the calculations with this adapted particle that now can be treated as being independent of the other particles. This adapted particle is the quasi particle. So instead of looking at 100 interacting protons, you look at 100 adapted protons that do not interact with each other. Now, you just need to solve 100 one-body equations...which is very possible.

This way of working is analogous (conceptually) to the effective mass in solid state physics. This is the adapted mass that mimicks an interacting particle as if it were moving inside a vacuum with no interactions what so ever, so as a free particle. So basically you can apply the easy equations to describe this free particle but you will need to use the adapted mass, ie the effective mass.

The big difference is that in order to define a quasi particle, you will need to lumb in QM energy contributions like the self energy...but let us not get into that.

marlon