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It is suggested that the long-range part of the Coulomb interaction of the electrons in solids can be treated by regarding the solid as a homogeneous dielectric. The theory is developed in a semi-classical way. It is found that there is a possibility of sustained electric oscillations in metals, and these are identified in the case of a free electron gas with the plasma oscillations of Bohm and Pines. The theory is used to discuss the plasma frequencies of metals and the energy loss spectra of fast electrons in Ruthemann and Lang type experiments. The connection with the optical properties is indicated.
John P. Hubbard (Tue,) studied this question.