Dynamic response approach to dynamic image potential

A dielectric response approach to the dynamic image potential of a charged particle approaching a planar metal surface is formulated. A self-consistent scheme for calculating the instantaneous speed of the particle, and its image potential is also derived. It is shown that the scheme does not rely on the actual approximations made while describing the response of the metal with surface. Various approximations are discussed and the corresponding numerical results compared. The effect of self-consistency and inclusion of dispersion in metal is noticeable.