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Electronic Raman scattering in metals: effects of electron-phonon coupling

We report the first systematic measurements of the Raman scattering by electrons in elemental metals of Al, Mo, Nb, Os, Pb, Re, Ta, Ti, V, W and metallic compound La$B_6$. Experimental spectra are modelled on the base of the band structures, calculated within the density functional theory, taking properly into account the effects of electron-phonon scattering. The agreement between our measured and calculated spectra is excellent for the variety of metals, thus providing estimates for the electron-phonon coupling constants and temperature-dependent relaxation rates. The method can be applied for other metallic materials to evaluate an electron-phonon coupling as an alternative to the transport and optical measurements.