A New Theoretical Modeling of Surface Resistance in Normal Metals at Terahertz Frequencies

A number of researchers have reported discrepancies between surface resistance measurements and classical theoretical predictions for simple mm-wave and sub-mm-wave structures. We have developed a rigorous phenomenological model for analyzing surface resistance of normal metals. The model is based on quantum mechanical analysis for spatial dispersion within the metal. We have used the model to predict the surface resistance in normal metals at terahertz frequencies. Our analysis shows that the conductivity is not only frequency but also wave vector dependent. Moreover, we have compared the results of this model with the results of the classical skin-effect model and classical relaxation- effect model. We demonstrate that our model has good quantitative agreement with the published experimental data for the room temperature surface resistance of normal metals at terahertz frequencies range from the literature.