II Surface and Size Effects on the Light Scattering Spectra of Solids

Abstract

This chapter discusses the surface and size effects on the light scattering spectra of solids and recent developments, with emphasis on certain theoretical methods that have proved useful to those engaged in research in the area. The chapter also describes experimental studies of size and surface effects. The development of a variety of laser sources and highly sophisticated spectrometers has enabled Raman spectroscopy to become a tool of major importance in the arsenal of the solid state physics community. Until the past few years, the light scattering method has been used primarily to study elementary excitations characteristic of the infinitely extended medium. In addition, the chapter explains that a substantial body of theoretical and experimental literature has extended these methods to the study of waves, which propagate on surfaces and along interfaces, to standing wave or guided wave modes of free standing films and films on substrates, and finally to the study of inhomogeneities or subtle features near the surface with spatial extent very much smaller than the wavelength of light.