Inelastic light scattering by electrons and plasmons in metals

The cross section of the inelastic light scattering by electron-hole plasma in metals is studied. The Coulomb interaction of electron excitations is taken into account self-consistently. The system of the Boltzmann equation for electronic fluctuations and Maxwell’s equations for the interaction field is solved. The Raman spectra consist of the electron-hole background, diffuson and plasmon resonances. The widths of this background and resonance are determined by the electron collision rate as well as by the decay of the incident and scattered radiation in the metal. The line shape depends on the screening of the electron-light interaction, i.e., on the incident radiation frequency. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 679–689 (August 1997) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.