Optical excitation of plasmons in a quasi-one-dimensional conductor

Authors

P. F. Williams, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
M. A. Butler, Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey
D. L. Rousseau, Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey

Date of this Version

August 1974

Comments

Published in Physical Review B Volume 10, Number 3, 1 August 1974. Copyright © 1974 American Physical Society. Used by permission.

Abstract

We have carefully determined the optical spectrum of K₂Pt(CN) ₄Br_0.3 - 3H₂O near the reflectivity edge. Our data reveal, in addition to the expected monotonic background, a broad peak in ε₂ (ω) above a threshold coinciding with the zero of ε₁ (ω) near 16000 cm^-1. We assign this band to indirect excitation of plasmons. Details of the excitation of plasmons are discussed with particular attention being paid to the problems presented by the one-dimensional character of the material. It is concluded that the electronic structure of this material cannot be adequately described by either a free-electron model or a one-band tight-binding model.