Surface interactions in quantum plasmas

This dissertation consists of two parts covering two different topics. In the first part, Manson and Ritchie's self-energy formalism is applied to investigate the image potential for a charged particle near a solid surface. A generalization of this formalism to include high-order corrections has been given. Numerical evaluation of the image potential has been carried out using the complete and orthogonal basis set of Coulombic wave functions. Calculation of high-order corrections to the binding energy of electrons in image states is described. In the second part of this dissertation, a nonlinear mechanism of photon absorption by surface plasmon excitation through intraband excitations facilitated by electron-ion interactions is investigated. The results indicate that this mechanism may make small correction to the absorptance of photons at an Al metal surface. Further theoretical and experimental work in this area is indicated.