Physics 215

Winter 2002

Introduction to Modern Physics

Prof. Ioan Kosztin

Lecture #24

Solid State Physics

Bonding in solids (metals, isolators, semiconductors)
Classical free electron theory of metals
Quantum theory of metals
Band theory of solids
Semiconductors
Lasers

Quantum free electron theory of metals

Quantum free electron model of metals:
metal = an ideal gas of conduction electrons moving through the
fixed lattice of positive ion cores
+ the electrons obey (quantum) Fermi-Dirac statistics
Determine and K by replacing in the classical formulas
v rms vF ,

n n

2
DEF3 / 2 ,
3

8 2m 3 / 2
D =

3
h

2
CV CV = T , =
DkB2 EF
3

ne 2 ne 2L
,
=
=
m
mvF

1
K = TvF L
3

K
2 EF 2 kB2
8
2

=
=
=

2.45
10
W/K
3 ne 2
3 e2
T

Lorentz number

good agreement with experiment

Fermi sphere (sea) in electric field

!
The net effect of E is a small
displacement of the Fermi surface
E
vy
vy
A

!
vd
vx

vx

2EF
vF =
m

!
f0 ( p ) = ( pF p )
step
1 for x > 0
function: (x )
0 for x < 0

!
!
!
f ( p ) = f0 ( p ) + f ( p )

! !
!
!
! E p f ( p )
f ( p ) e ( p )

m
p

relaxation time approximation

Temperature dependence of and K

From the Boltzmann kinetic equation in the relaxation time
approximation
2
f0 (,T )
e
D
2
3/2
d
T
(
,
)

(T ) = 1 (T ) =

3m

transport relaxation time

depends on the scattering
mechanism of the electrons

a similar relation holds for K(T)

At low temperature the electron-impurity scattering is dominant
2
5
aT
bT
(T ) =
+
+
"
"i "
e e
e ph

(Matthiessens rule)

imp

At high temperature the electron-phonon scattering is dominant

(T ) = T ,

K = const

Resistivity of Ag and Na
higher impurity
concentration

[D.K.C. MacDonald and K. Mendelssohn, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London) A202:103, 1950]

Band Theory of Solids

The energy spectrum of crystalline solids can be calculated by
using the Self-Consistent-Field (SCF) method from atomic
physics
Consider that each electron moves in the static, periodic
potential created by the lattice of nuclei (Born-Oppenheimer
approximation) and the rest of the electrons
The eigenvalues of the corresponding Schrdinger equation
form energy bands s(k); s = band index, 0<ki<bi (k=quasi wave
vector, and b=reciprocal lattice vector)

sk (k + b ) = sk (k )
The eigenfunctions of the corresponding Schrdinger equation
have the generic form

sk (r ) = e ikrusk (r ),

usk (r + a ) = usk (r )

lattice vector

Isolated-atom approach to band theory

Splitting of the 3s
level when 2 Na
atoms are brought
together

Splitting of the 3s
level when 6 Na
atoms are brought
together

Formation of a 3s
energy band when
Na atoms form a
crystalline solid

Energy bands
in sodium
For N atoms,
the capacity
of each band
is 2(2+1)N

Energy bands in metals

n
o
c

c
u
d

tio

d
n
a

(Fermi energy)

In metals the conduction band is partially filled

with (conduction) electrons with E<EF
States with E>EF in the conduction band are empty
and can be easily occupied (at the cost of a tiny
amount of energy) by the electrons near the Fermi
surface, i.e., conduction electrons can move freely
in a perfect metallic crystal

Energy bands in insulataors

The valence (conduction) band is completely filled (empty)

The conduction and valence bands are separated by and energy
gap Eg~10eV
The Fermi energy (chemical potential) falls inside the energy gap
A valence electron requires E>Eg to become a conduction electron,
i.e., the density of conduction electrons is ~ exp(-Eg/kBT)

Energy bands in semiconductors

similar band structure to
insulators but with much
smaller energy gap (Eg~1eV)
poor (good) conductor
(insulator) at T=0
conductivity increases rapidly
with temperature

There are two types of

charge carriers in an
intrinsic semiconductor

(i.e., #electrons = #holes):

electrons and holes