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Ch7 1 Renew

The document summarizes energy band theory and nearly free electron models. It discusses: 1) How the free electron model fails to explain differences between metals, semimetals, and insulators, but taking into account the periodic lattice introduces energy bands and band gaps which can explain these differences. 2) In the nearly free electron model, electrons respond to fields as if they have an effective mass and effective charge, explaining properties like the Hall coefficient. 3) Bragg reflection of electron waves in crystals causes energy gaps at specific wavelengths. These energy gaps determine whether a solid is a conductor or insulator.

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67 views28 pages

Ch7 1 Renew

The document summarizes energy band theory and nearly free electron models. It discusses: 1) How the free electron model fails to explain differences between metals, semimetals, and insulators, but taking into account the periodic lattice introduces energy bands and band gaps which can explain these differences. 2) In the nearly free electron model, electrons respond to fields as if they have an effective mass and effective charge, explaining properties like the Hall coefficient. 3) Bragg reflection of electron waves in crystals causes energy gaps at specific wavelengths. These energy gaps determine whether a solid is a conductor or insulator.

Uploaded by

RaFaT HaQ
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 7

Energy Bands
Free Electron Model (Sommerfeld):
Success: Failure:
• Heat capacity • Distinction between metals,
• Thermal conductivity semimetals, and insulators.
• Magnetic susceptibility • Positive Hall coefficient
• Electrodynamics of metals • Magneto-transport
Brief Review:

Free Electron Model


To understand the difference between insulators and conductors,
we must extend the free electron model to take account of the
periodic lattice of the solid. The possibility of a band gap is the
most important new property that emerges.

The electrons respond to applied electric or magnetic fields as if


the electrons were endowed with an effective mass m*, which may
be larger or smaller than the free electron mass, or may even be
negative. Electrons in crystals respond to applied fields, as if
endowed with negative or positive charges, -e or +e, and herein
lies the explanation of the negative and positive values of the Hall
coefficient.
Nearly Free Electron Model

The band structure of a crystal can often be explained by the nearly free
electron model for which the band electrons are treated as perturbed only
weakly by the periodic potential of the ion cores. This model answers almost
all the qualitative questions about the behavior of electrons in metals.

We know that Bragg reflection is a characteristic feature of wave


propagation in crystals. Bragg reflection of electron waves in crystals is
the cause of energy gaps. (At Bragg reflection, wavelike solutions of the
Schrodinger equation do not exist, as in Fig. 2.) These energy gaps are of
decisive significance in determining whether a solid is an insulator or a
conductor.

We explain physically the origin of energy gaps in the simple problem


of a linear solid of lattice constant a for a 1-D linear lattice.
Free Electron Model Nearly Free Electron Model

The Bragg condition (k + G)2 = k2 for diffraction of a wave of wavevector


k becomes in one dimension
1
k=± G = ± n𝜋/a, Solutions in 1-D (4)
2
Where G = 2𝜋n/a is a reciprocal lattice vector and n is an integer. The first
reflections and the first energy gap occur at k = ± 𝜋/a. The region in k
space between - 𝜋/a and 𝜋/a is the first Brillouin zone of this lattice.
Other energy gaps occur for other values of the integer n.
Standing wave solutions
Standing waves

 sin2x/a  cos2x/a
charge density
a constant
roughly as U(x) = - U cos2x/a (negative, with a period of a)
a
x -1
See Fig. 2
- -U
Awarded the 1952 Nobel Prize for
Felix Bloch
"their development of new ways (1905-1983, Swiss)
and methods for nuclear magnetic
precision measurements
Demonstration of the Energy Gap !

Total period = a + b
*

Note ϵ < Uo
by translation of r = a+b

(0) = *(0)
d(0)/dx = d*(0)/dx

(a) = *(-b) exp[ik(a+b)]


d(a)/dx = d*(-b)/dx exp[ik(a+b)]
3/2 for Ka =0

3/2 for Ka =  /2

Certain allowed values of Ka, thus giving rise to allowed values of ϵ


ϵ = ħ2K2/2m

Forming energy gaps in ϵ at Ka = n !


Exact Proof of the Bloch Theorem
L = 20 a
The Central equation to solve the C(K), and e
Restatement of the Bloch Theorem
Crystal momentum of an Electron

U= 0, then from eq. (27)


Solution of the Central Equation

that the potential energy U(x) contains only a single


Fourier component Ug = U-g denoted by U. Then a block of the determinant
of the coefficients is given by:

At a given k, each root 𝝐 or 𝝐k lies on a different energy band, except in case


of coincidence. The solution of the determinant (32) gives a set of energy
eigenvalues 𝝐nk , where n is an index for ordering the energies, and k is the
wave-vector that labels Ck.
Most often, k will be taken in the first zone.

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