Low-energy bulk plasmon of nickel

Abstract

High-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy has been used to study low-energy bulk excitation modes of planar-bound electrons (bulk plasmons) in nickel. We observed for the first time a bulk plasmon at about 1.2 eV, in agreement with dielectric theory. The behavior of its amplitude with the off-specular angle ensures the dipolar nature of such mode. On the other hand, the intensity of the plasmon peak is vanishing upon ion bombardment due to the sputtering-induced modification of dielectric function.