ISSN:
1434-6036
Keywords:
13.80
;
42.65
;
78.20.Bh
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract We have considered the processes which lead to elastic scattering between two far ultraviolet or X-ray photons while they propagate inside a solid, modeled as a simple electron gas. The new ingredient, with respect to the standard theory of photon-photon scattering in vacuum, is the presence of low-energy, nonrelativistic electron-hole excitations. Owing to the existence of two-photon vertices, the scattering processes in the metal are predominantly of second order, as opposed to fourth order for the vacuum case. The main processes in second order are dominated by exchange of virtual plasmons between the two photons. For two photons of similar energy ħΩ, this gives rise to a cross section rising likeΩ 2 up to maximum of around 10−32 cm2, and then decreasing likeΩ −6. The maximal cross section is found for the photon wavevectork∼k F , the Fermi surface size, which typically means a photon energy ħΩ in the keV range. Possible experiments aimed at checking the existence of these rare but seemingly measurable elastic photon-photon scattering processes are discussed, using in particular intense synchrotron sources.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01320503
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