The recent speculation on the possibility of achieving gigantic enhancement
for surface-enhanced Raman scattering at cryogenic substrate temperatures
is examined using a simple theoretical model. The surface-plasmon enhanceme
nt mechanism is modeled using the Fermi-electron gas approach instead of th
e Drude model as used previously in the literature. Due to the diminution o
f substrate polarizability from quantum effects, it is concluded that drama
tic enhancement is unlikely to be achieved by just cooling the surface to s
uch low temperatures.