Abstract
This paper introduces key ingredients of the dielectric response of a-alumina that go beyond an independent-particle (IP) treatment of the valence-electron excitations. The optical-response functions were calculated from first-principles both at the Bethe-Salpeter and the random-phase approximation (RPA) levels. Excitonic effects obtained within the Bethe-Salpeter framework were found essential for reproducing the low-energy part of the experimental spectra (below 15 eV) and the bound exciton in particular. For higher energies, local-field effects introduced through the RPA modified considerably the IP results and provided a satisfactory account of the reflectivity spectra and of the position and shape of the dominant bulk plasmon resonance in the electron energy-loss spectra.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 195129 |
Pages (from-to) | - |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Physical Review B (Condensed Matter) |
Volume | 83 |
Issue number | 19 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 25 May 2011 |