⚡ Electron wave 🧬 Old genetic idea

plasmon

1 9.9

A small wave of electrons that moves together in a material

noun
/ˈplæzmɒn/

Specialized

: plasmon

Within the red/yellow grains that are related to Zr, the average plasmon energy is 16-17 eV, and within the blue grains that are related to Cr, the average plasmon energy is 21-22 eV.
plasmon resonance
surface plasmon

Examples

Plasmons are excited in illuminated nanostructures.

Academic text (2018)
An experiment performed by detecting inelastically scattered photons as the nodes of the standing x-ray wave field move through regions dominated, respectively, by core and valence electrons demonstrated the existence of plasmon bands and plasmon band gaps.

Academic text (1995)
The plasmon resonance is highly sensitive to changes in the environment.

Academic text (1995)
Besides their improved tissue penetration, smaller nanoshells generate a strong surface plasmon resonance and may exhibit absorption.

Blog text (6)
The plasmon resonance is highly sensitive to changes in the environment.
Unfortunately, this research was not about photons; it's about surface plasmons, i.e., waves of electrons at the surface of metals.
The silicon atoms act like mini antennae that can magnify the surface plasmon of graphene.

Surface Forms

plasmon singular

plasmons plural

Morphology

plasmon = plasma (semi-transparent) = plasm + on

Clearly formed from 'plasma' + the particle-forming suffix '-on' (analogous to 'phonon'/'electron'), but the precise technical meaning ('quantum of plasma oscillation') is specialist and may not be fully predictable for average learners.

Etymology

Plasmon comes from the Greek plasma 'something formed' and the ending -on, as in electron, and in physics it names a tiny wave or particle in the moving electrons of a metal. That is why the physical plasmon is seen as a small unit or 'packet' in the electron plasma of a material.