Effects of screening on the plasmon bands in metallic superlattices

Abstract EN

The effects of screening on the plasmon bands in an infinite metallic superlattice are considered.

The special case of Al/Mg superlattice is discussed.

In the presence of screening and when the layers have equal thicknesses, the following effects are observed: Firstly, the single band splits into two, the splitting being obvious in the long wavelength limit.

Secondly, the bands narrow down with increasing layer thicknesses and become a single sharp band in the large thickness limit.

Thirdly, the asymptotic value of the band deviates from the corresponding value for the case with no screening at large layer thickness.

The results of the band calculations are discussed and the energies of the modified interface plasmons are evaluated and their behavior is interpreted in terms of the screening parameters of the metallic layers.