Extremely Low Frequency Plasmons in Metallic Microstructures

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel mechanism to achieve extremely low frequency plasmons in metallic microstructures by using periodic thin-wire structures, potentially impacting GHz applications and superconductivity.

Contribution

It introduces a new design for metallic microstructures that depresses plasma frequency into the GHz range, supported by analytic theory and computational validation.

Findings

Replicated key features of low-frequency plasmons through computations.

Demonstrated enhanced effective electron mass due to structure design.

Identified potential impacts on superconducting properties.

Abstract

The plasmon is a well established collective excitation of metals in the visible and near UV but at much lower frequencies dissipation destroys all trace of the plasmon and typical Drude behaviour sets in. We propose a mechanism for depression of the plasma frequency into the far infra red or even GHz band: periodic structures build of very thin wires dilute the average concentration of electrons and considerably enhance the effective electron mass through self-inductance. Computations replicate the key features and confirm our analytic theory. The new structure has novel properties not observed before in the GHz band, including some possible impact on superconducting properties.