Electron System Thermodynamics: Plasmon Energies 5-30eV

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter mcodesmart
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energies Plasmon
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the role of plasmon energies in electron systems, specifically within the range of 5-30 eV. It is established that these energies are significantly higher than typical thermal energies at room temperature, which is approximately 25 meV. Consequently, plasmons do not contribute to the thermodynamic properties of electron systems, such as heat capacity and electron free energy, due to the substantial energy gap that prevents thermal excitation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of plasmon energies and their significance in electron systems.
  • Familiarity with thermodynamic properties, including heat capacity and free energy.
  • Knowledge of metallic densities and their influence on electron behavior.
  • Basic principles of thermal energy and its comparison to other energy scales.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of plasmon energies in detail, focusing on their implications in solid-state physics.
  • Study the thermodynamic properties of electron systems, particularly in metallic contexts.
  • Explore the relationship between thermal energy and excitation of quantum states in electron systems.
  • Investigate the role of electron free energy in determining the stability and behavior of materials at various temperatures.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physicists, materials scientists, and researchers focused on condensed matter physics, particularly those studying the thermodynamic properties of electron systems and plasmon dynamics.

mcodesmart
Messages
34
Reaction score
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?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
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.
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
1K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
6K
Replies
3
Views
1K