Infrared behaviour of metallic systems in one,two and three dimensions

A simple approximate expression for the electron lifetime() in metals is rederived and discussed for different dimensions. In the 3D-case we get the well known Drude behaviour, i.e. a constant. In one dimension() is strongly frequency-dependent in the IR. The 2D-case is intermediate to the preceding ones. These results are essentially due to the different form of the Fermi surface for an electron gas in one, two and three dimensions.