On the properties of the phenomenon like Vavilov-Cherenkov one with emission of surface plasmons

TL;DR

This paper explores an analogue of the Vavilov-Cherenkov effect involving surface plasmon-polaritons near a metal-dielectric boundary, revealing conditions for momentum transfer and energy loss at finite temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces a new phenomenon analogous to Cherenkov radiation involving surface plasmons and calculates the associated photon momentum and probability at non-zero temperatures.

Findings

Surface plasmon-polaritons can be generated by electrons near a metal-dielectric boundary.

Photon momentum in this process can be twice the initial electron momentum.

Finite temperature allows the process to occur with non-zero probability.

Abstract

The phenomenon is described that is an analogue of the Vavilov-Cherenkov phenomenon and that could be observable in a space with the boundary separated a well reflecting light metal and a dielectric. An electron that is moving at a constant velocity in proximity to the such boundary creates surface plasmon-polaritons with a phase velocity that is below the electron velocity. The linear momentum of a photon in the created plasmon-polariton is calculated. This momentum could be as high as a doubled initial electron momentum. In the other case the electron that has created the photon in the plasmon-polariton could totally lost its velocity. It is shown that at the non-zero temperature this process has a non-zero probability.