SUMMARY
The plasma frequency of bulk silver is definitively calculated to be 2.17 × 1015 Hz, corresponding to a wavelength of 138 nm. This value is derived using the formula plasma frequency = sqrt(4πN e2/m0), where N is the electron density, e is the charge of the electron, and m0 is the electron mass. The discussion highlights the common textbook value of 1/τ = 2.4 × 1013 s−1 for fitting plasmon resonance near 400 nm. Additionally, it addresses the discrepancies in reported plasma frequencies for doped silver, indicating that doping concentration affects the plasma frequency significantly.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of plasma frequency and its calculation.
- Familiarity with the jellium model in solid-state physics.
- Knowledge of optical properties of solids, particularly in relation to metals.
- Basic concepts of semiconductor doping and its effects on electronic properties.
NEXT STEPS
- Research the relationship between doping concentration and plasma frequency in semiconductors.
- Study the jellium model as described in Ashcroft & Mermin's book.
- Explore the optical properties of solids using Mark Fox's "Optical Properties of Solids".
- Investigate the conversion methods between frequency in Hertz and energy in electronvolts (eV).
USEFUL FOR
Physicists, materials scientists, and researchers in semiconductor technology who are studying the optical and electronic properties of silver and its doped variants.