1205.6626 (R. L. Heinisch et al.)

Mie scattering by a charged dielectric particle with negative electron affinity    [PDF]

R. L. Heinisch, F. X. Bronold, H. Fehske

We study for a dielectric particle with negative electron affinity the effect of surplus electrons on the anomalous scattering of light arising from the transverse optical phonon resonance in the particle's dielectric constant. Using the fact that the same phonon leads to the polarization-induced trapping of the surplus electrons and also limits the surface conductivity, we demonstrate that the surface charge shifts extinction resonances in the infrared. This offers an optical way to measure the charge of the particle and thus to use it in a plasma as a minimally invasive electric probe.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1205.6626