We propose to measure the surface charge accumulating at the interface between a plasma and a dielectric by infrared spectroscopy using the dielectric as a multi-internal reflection element. The surplus charge leads to an attenuation of the transmitted signal from which the magnitude of the charge can be inferred. Calculating the optical response perturbatively in first order from the Boltzmann equation for the electron-hole plasma inside the solid, we can show that in the parameter range of interest a classical Drude term results. Only the integrated surface charge enters, opening up thereby a very efficient analysis of measured data.

• Received 15 April 2021
• Accepted 15 June 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.104.015204