OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF POLYVALENT METALS IN THE SOLID AND LIQUID-STATE- ALUMINUM

A semiphenomenological theory is proposed for the calculation of the f requency and temperature dependences of the optical properties of poly valent metals. Utilizing the concept of parallel bands, the transverse optical conductivity is decomposed into a nearly-free-electron part a nd in an interband part. The theory needs only one fitting parameter, the unknown electron-electron scattering frequency above the Fermi ene rgy. The complete set of optical quantities is calculated for aluminiu m for a large frequency range (0.01-50 eV) and from T = 300 to 2000 K.