Surface-enhanced Raman scattering at cryogenic substrate temperatures

The recent speculation on the possibility of achieving gigantic enhancement for surface-enhanced Raman scattering at cryogenic substrate temperatures is examined using a simple theoretical model. The surfaceplasmon enhancement mechanism is modeled using the Fermi-electron gas approach instead of the Drude model as used previously in the literature. Due to the diminution of substrate polarizability from quantum effects, it is concluded that dramatic enhancement is unlikely to be achieved by just cooling the surface to such low temperatures.