E N E M V De Dn ED 2 3 2 2 )( ===Σ − Σ Π Ρ = Ρi + Ρph(T)
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Phys 446 Solid State Physics Summary Last Lecture Lecture 8 Free electron model – simplest way to describe electronic properties of (Ch. 4.9 – 4.10, 5.1-5.6) metals: the valence electrons of free atoms become conduction electrons in crystal and move freely throughout the crystal. Last time: Discussed the free electron (Drude) model applied to electronic specific heat and electrical conductivity. Today: Finish with Free electron model. Thermal conductivity. Motion in magnetic field: cyclotron resonance and Hall effect Start new chapter: energy bands in solids Summary Last Lecture (continued) Fermi energy - energy of the highest occupied electronic level at T = 0 K; 3D case: 2 3 1 3 1 3 =2 ⎛ 3π 2 N ⎞ ⎛ 3π 2 N ⎞ = ⎛ 3π 2 N ⎞ ⎜ ⎟ k = ⎜ ⎟ v = ⎜ ⎟ EF = ⎜ ⎟ F ⎜ ⎟ F ⎜ ⎟ 2m ⎝ V ⎠ ⎝ V ⎠ m ⎝ V ⎠ Density of states of 3D free electron gas: Electrical conductivity: 3 2 ne2τ dN V ⎛ 2m ⎞ 1 2 3N σ = − D(E) = = 2 ⎜ 2 ⎟ E = m* dE 2π ⎝ = ⎠ 2E ρ = ρ + ρ (T) Heat capacity of free electron gas i ph at low temperatures kBT << EF : Thermal conductivity: Wiedemann-Franz law 2 π 2 ⎛ k ⎞ K = LσT L = ⎜ B ⎟ 3 ⎝ e ⎠ Motion in a magnetic field: cyclotron resonance Applied magnetic field →the Lorentz force: F = −e[E+(v × B)] Perfect metal, no electric field - the equation of motion is: Let the magnetic field to be along the z-direction. Then dv dv x = −ω v y eB c y = ωcvx where ω = - cyclotron frequency dt dt c m For moderate magnetic absorption fields (~ few kG), ωc ~ few GHz. e.g. for B = 0.1 T, fc = ωc/2π = 2.8 GHz Cyclotron resonance – peak in absorption of electromagnetic waves at ωc Used to measure the effective mass in metals and semiconductors Summary of free electron model Limitations of free electron model Free electron model – simplest way to describe electronic properties of The free electron model gives a good insight into many properties of metals: the valence electrons of free atoms become conduction electrons in metals, such as the heat capacity, thermal conductivity and electrical crystal and move freely throughout the crystal. conductivity. However, it fails to explain a number of important Fermi energy - the energy of the highest occupied electronic level at T = 0 properties and experimental facts, for example: K; 2 3 1 3 1 3 =2 ⎛ 3π 2 N ⎞ ⎛ 3π 2 N ⎞ = ⎛ 3π 2 N ⎞ ⎜ ⎟ k = ⎜ ⎟ v = ⎜ ⎟ • the difference between metals, semiconductors and insulators EF = ⎜ ⎟ F ⎜ ⎟ F ⎜ ⎟ 2m ⎝ V ⎠ ⎝ V ⎠ m ⎝ V ⎠ •It does not explain the occurrence of positive values of the Hall Density of states of 3D free electron gas: Electrical conductivity: coefficient. 3 2 ne2τ dN V ⎛ 2m ⎞ 1 2 3N σ = − •Also the relation between conduction electrons in the metal and the D(E) = = 2 ⎜ 2 ⎟ E = m* dE 2π ⎝ = ⎠ 2E number of valence electrons in free atoms is not always correct. ρ = ρi + ρph(T) Bivalent and trivalent metals are consistently less conductive than the Heat capacity of free electron gas monovalent metals (Cu, Ag, Au) Thermal conductivity: at low temperatures kBT << EF : Wiedemann-Franz law ⇒ need a more accurate theory, which would be able to answer these 2 π 2 ⎛ k ⎞ questions – the band theory K = LσT L = ⎜ B ⎟ 3 ⎝ e ⎠ The problem of electrons in a solid – a many-electron problem Bloch theorem Write the Schrödinger equation the approximation of non-interacting The full Hamiltonian contains not only the one-electron potentials electrons: describing the interactions of the electrons with atomic nuclei, but also pair potentials describing the electron-electron interactions The many-electron problem is impossible to solve exactly ⇒ ψ(r) – wave function for one electron. simplified assumptions needed Independent electrons, which obey a one-electron Schrödinger The simplest approach we have already considered - a free electron equation a periodic potential U(r) = U(r+ T) - Bloch electrons model Bloch theorem: the solution has the form where The next step is an independent electron approximation: assume that all the interactions are described by an effective potential. uk(r)= uk(r+T) - a periodic function with the same period as the lattice One of the most important properties Bloch theorem introduces a wave vector k, which plays the same of this potential - its periodicity: fundamental role in the motion in a periodic potential that the free U(r) = U(r+ T) electron wave vector k plays in the free-electron theory. ħk is known as the crystal momentum or quasi-momentum Another conclusions following from the Bloch theorem: Number of states in a band the wave vector k can always be confined to the first Brillouin zone The number of states in a band within the first Brillouin zone is equal This is because any k' not in the first Brillouin zone can be written as to the number of primitive unit cells N in the crystal. k' = k + G Then, if the Bloch form holds for k', it will also hold for k Consider the one-dimensional case, periodic boundary conditions. Energy bands Allowed values of k form a uniform mesh whose unit spacing is 2π/L Substitute the solutions in the Bloch form into the ⇒ The number of states inside the first zone, whose length is 2π/a, is (2π/a)/(2π/L) = L/a = N, where N is the number of unit cells Schrodinger equation, obtain: A similar argument may be applied in 2- and 3-dimensional cases. with periodic condition: uk(r)= uk(r+T) For any k, find an infinite number of solutions with discrete energies Taking into account two spin orientations, conclude that there are 2N En(k), labeled with the band index n independent states (orbitals) in each energy band. For each n, the set of electronic levels specified by En(k) is called an energy band. The information contained in these functions for different n and k is referred to as the band structure of the solid. Nearly free electron (weak binding) model Now, turn on a weak potential. Consider it as a weak periodic First step: empty-lattice model. When perturbation in Hamiltonian. the potential is zero the solutions of the From perturbation theory have: 2 Schrödinger equation are plane waves: j,k' U i,k E (k) = E 0 (k) + ψ 0 U ψ 0 + 2 2 1 i i i,k i,k ∑ 0 0 0 = k 0 ik⋅r k ', j Ei (k) − E j (k) E (k) = ψ k (r) = e V 2m0 c where index i refers to ith band; 0 refers to empty-lattice model. where the wave function is normalized The first term is the undisturbed free-electron to the volume of unit cell Vc value for the energy. The second term is the mean value of the potential in the state i, k – constant independent of k – can set to zero The third term – the 2nd order correction – vanishes except k' = k + G The third term can be rewritten as There are special k points for which the energy levels become degenerate and the relationship holds for any non-zero value of the potential: UG - Fourier transform of the crystal potential U Finally we obtain for the energy: This conduction implies that k must lie on a Bragg plane bisecting the line joining the origin of k space and the However, the perturbation theory cannot be applied when the reciprocal lattice point G potential cannot be considered as a small perturbation This happens when the magnitude of the potential becomes comparable with the energy separation between the bands, i.e. ⇒ a weak periodic potential has its major effect on those free electron levels whose wave vectors are close to ones at which the Bragg reflection can occur. In this case we have to solve the Schrödinger equation explicitly In order to find the energy levels and the wave functions near these Illustrate this behavior using a one-dimensional lattice points we need to invoke the degenerate perturbation theory. The splitting of the bands at each Bragg plane in the extended-zone The result: scheme results in the splitting of the bands both at the boundaries and at the centre of the first Brillouin zone. This results is particularly simple for point lying on the Bragg plane: Obtain The magnitude of the band gap is equal to twice the Fourier component of the crystal potential. Intermediate Summary Origin of the energy gaps The Bloch theorem: the wave function for an electron in periodic potential can be written in the form: where uk(r) = uk(r+T) - a periodic function with the period of the lattice The energy spectrum of electrons consists of a set of continuous energy bands, separated by regions with no allowed states - gaps Function E(k) satisfies the symmetry properties of a crystal, in particular, the translational invariance: E(k) = E(k +G) This allows considering the first Brillouin zone only. We focused on the energy values Also, inversion symmetry: E(k) = E(-k) got away from the zone edges Nearly free electron model – weak crystal potential. Electron behaves essentially as a free particle, except the wave vectors close and to the boundaries of the zone. near the zone edges. In these regions, energy gaps appear: Eg = 2|UG| Now, let's see how the wave functions are modified by (weak) crystal For simplicity we consider a one-dimensional lattice, for which the potential. From the perturbation theory, have for the first band zone edges are k=½G = π/a (Bragg reflection occurs) (away from the zone edge): The result: 0 U 0 G 1 0 0 1 i()π a x −i()π a x ψ 1(k) =ψ 1 (k) + ψ 2 (k) 0 0 ψ ± = 1/ 2 []ψ 1 (π a) ±ψ 2 (π a) = 1/ 2 ()e ± e E1 (k) − E2 (k) L L Here, again, we leave only the nearest-band (2nd) term, as we did for at the zone edge, the scattering is so strong that the reflected wave the energy levels – because of the large denominator for higher bands.