Theory of Cyclotron Resonance in Metals

Azbel' and Kaner have shown that a cyclotron resonance phenomenon is possible in a metal under extreme anomalous skin-effect conditions when the magnetic field is parallel to the metal surface. Here the correct form of the surface impedance is deduced in a more simple way by using the "ineffectiveness concept" of Pippard. An approximate criterion is also established for how nearly parallel to the surface the magnetic field must be. When the oscillating electric field is not parallel to the constant magnetic field, it produces a polarization of the charge distribution in the metal, and it is shown that this effect does not destroy the resonance in contrast to the situation in semiconductors.