The theory and history of the anomalous skin effect in normal metals

Abstract

In the present review the development of the theory of the anomalous skin effect in normal metals is discussed. The dependence of the impedance on the mean free path of the conduction electrons becomes anomalous for certain directions of electromagnetic wave propagation if there are singular points (points of parabolic type, points with zero curvature) on the Fermi surface. The influence of the gain part of the collision integral on the impedance is analyzed in detail when the metal is isotropic. It is shown how the gain term affects the value of the surface conductivity under the diffuse reflection of electrons from the metal surface.