INELASTIC LIGHT-SCATTERING BY ELECTRONS AND PLASMONS IN METALS

The cross section of the inelastic light scattering by electron-hole p lasma in metals is studied. The Coulomb interaction of electron excita tions is taken into account self-consistently. The system of the Botlz mann equation for electronic fluctuations and Maxwell's equations for the interaction field is solved. The Raman spectra-consist of the elec tron-hole background, diffuson and plasmon resonances. The widths of t his background and resonance are determined by the electron collision rate as well as by the decay of the incident and scattered radiation i n the metal. The line shape depends on the screening of the electron-l ight interaction, i.e., on the incident radiation frequency. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.