Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Within a simple unified framework of classical electrodynamics that incorporates background bound charges and currents, we have analytically determined the attenuation constant, phase constant, and reflectivity of Drude metals across the full frequency spectrum ($0 < ω< \infty$).Our result for reflectivity agrees well with existing experimental data for both plasmas and seawater. Notably, for highly conductive Drude metals ($ω_p τ\gg 1$), the attenuation constant simplifies to $k_- \simeq \sqrt{\frac{με}{2}} \sqrt{ω_p^2 - ω^2 + \vert{}ω_p^2 - ω^2\vert{}}$ across a broad high-frequency range spanning the plasma frequency $ω_p$. The branch-point singularity at $ω=ω_p$ in this relation reveals opto-critical behavior near $ω=ω_p$ in properties such as the attenuation constant, group velocity, and complex dielectric constant, for which we have determined the corresponding opto-critical exponents. Furthermore, we have incorporated quantum corrections into these optical properties via the Drude-Sommerfeld model with Thomas-Fermi screening.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Institution: University of Hyderabad
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7160921615