Incoherent Scattering of Light from Anisotropic Degenerate Plasmas

The differential scattering cross section for monochromatic radiation incident on an anisotropic degenerate plasma is calculated. The charge carriers are assumed to have ellipsoidal energy surfaces such that relatively undamped plasma acoustic modes exist. The line shape of the scattered radiation depends strongly on the existence of degeneracy and on the nature of the anisotropy. The scattering for small values of energy ($\omega$) and momentum ($q$) transferred to the plasma is dominated by the excitation of plasma acoustic modes. The spectrum of the scattered radiation exhibits a dip for values of $\frac{\omega }{q}=V_F$. Numerical calculations of the differential scattering cross section for a typical set of parameters are presented. The effects of an externally imposed electron drift are included.