Since there is no gap, metals can absorb light at very low energies. However, above a certain frequency (the plasma frequency ), metals actually become transparent because the electrons can no longer keep up with the light's oscillation. 3. Key Optical Constants
): Represents how much light is lost to absorption as it travels through the solid. 4. Important Optical Phenomena Optical Properties of Solids
Light bouncing off the surface. Metals are highly reflective because their "free" electrons can oscillate rapidly to cancel out the incoming field. Since there is no gap, metals can absorb
In the infrared range, light interacts directly with the vibrations of the crystal lattice (phonons). 5. Applications in Technology Since there is no gap