Plasmon

<p>In <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">physics</a>, a plasmon is a <a href="/facts/Quantum/4x5QTxGB">quantum</a> of <a href="/facts/Plasma_oscillation/B7lKhaMT">plasma oscillation</a>. Just as <a href="/facts/Light/jeofpMn4">light</a> (an optical oscillation) consists of <a href="/facts/Photons/mFNhAEzA">photons</a>, the plasma oscillation consists of plasmons. The plasmon can be considered as a <a href="/facts/Quasiparticle/Bpx2MNpb">quasiparticle</a> since it arises from the quantization of plasma oscillations, just like <a href="/facts/Phonon/tflWW6vw">phonons</a> are quantizations of mechanical vibrations. Thus, plasmons are collective (a discrete number) oscillations of the <a href="/facts/Free_electron_model/vIyhQHfK">free electron gas</a> density. For example, at optical frequencies, plasmons can <a href="/facts/Coupling_(physics)/Pg2Yg0Tz">couple</a> with a <a href="/facts/Photon/mFNhAEzA">photon</a> to create another quasiparticle called a plasmon <a href="/facts/Polariton/x5yhgMUg">polariton</a>.
</p><p>The field of study and manipulation of plasmons is called <a href="/facts/Plasmonics/IAR0rUhe">plasmonics</a>.
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Plasmon open-in-new

Plasmon