High pressure as a probe of electron structure: Aluminum

The density dependence of the reflectivity of aluminum provides information on both the electronic structure and electron scattering processes. Interband absorption features of aluminum that are submerged in the Drude absorption at one atmosphere are prominently revealed by application of pressure. Analysis of high-pressure data provides pseudopotential information beyond that attainable at one atmosphere. The data are best accounted for when scattering effects are included within a number-conserving approximation, and when an ab initio electron-electron scattering rate is also included.