Editing Plasmon (section)

{{Short description|Quasiparticle of charge oscillations in condensed matter}}
{{Hatnote|Not to be confused with [[plasmaron]]. For the brand of dried milk biscuit, see [[Plasmon biscuit]].}}
{{Condensed matter physics|expanded=Quasiparticles}}
{{Technical|date=March 2015}}

In [[physics]], a '''plasmon''' is a [[quantum]] of [[plasma oscillation]]. Just as [[light]] (an optical oscillation) consists of [[photons]], the plasma oscillation consists of plasmons. The plasmon can be considered as a [[quasiparticle]] since it arises from the quantization of plasma oscillations, just like [[phonon]]s are quantizations of mechanical vibrations. Thus, plasmons are collective (a discrete number) oscillations of the [[Free electron model|free electron gas]] density. For example, at optical frequencies, plasmons can [[Coupling (physics)|couple]] with a [[photon]] to create another quasiparticle called a plasmon [[polariton]].

The field of study and manipulation of plasmons is called [[plasmonics]].