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The empty lattice approximation is a theoretical electronic band structure model in which the potential is periodic
and weak (close to constant). One may also consider an empty irregular lattice, in which the potential is not even
periodic.[1] The empty lattice approximation describes a number of properties of energy dispersion relations of non-
interacting free electrons that move through a crystal lattice. The energy of the electrons in the "empty lattice" is the same
as the energy of free electrons. The model is useful because it clearly illustrates a number of the sometimes very complex
features of energy dispersion relations in solids which are fundamental to all electronic band structures.
Contents
Scattering and periodicity
The energy bands and the density of states
Second, third and higher Brillouin zones
The nearly free electron model
The electron bands of common metal crystals
References
External links
In theory the lattice is infinitely large, so a weak periodic scattering potential will eventually be strong enough to reflect the
wave. The scattering process results in the well known Bragg reflections of electrons by the periodic potential of the crystal
structure. This is the origin of the periodicity of the dispersion relation and the division of k-space in Brillouin zones. The
periodic energy dispersion relation is expressed as:
The are the reciprocal lattice vectors to which the bands belong.
The figure on the right shows the dispersion
relation for three periods in reciprocal space of a
one-dimensional lattice with lattice cells of
length a.
where Z is the atomic number, e is the elementary unit charge, r is the distance to the nucleus of the embedded ion and q
is a screening parameter that determines the range of the potential. The Fourier transform, , of the lattice potential,
, is expressed as
When the values of the off-diagonal elements between the reciprocal lattice vectors in the Hamiltonian almost go to
zero. As a result, the magnitude of the band gap collapses and the empty lattice approximation is obtained.
Free electron bands in a BCC Free electron bands in a FCC Free electron bands in a HCP crystal structure
crystal structure crystal structure
References
1. Physics Lecture Notes. P.Dirac, Feynman,R.,1968. Internet, Amazon,25.03.2014.
2. C. Kittel (1953–1976). Introduction to Solid State Physics. Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-49024-5.
External links
Brillouin Zone simple lattice diagrams by Thayer Watkins (http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/brillouin.htm)
Brillouin Zone 3d lattice diagrams by Technion. (http://phycomp.technion.ac.il/~nika/brillouin_zones.html)
DoITPoMS Teaching and Learning Package- "Brillouin Zones" (http://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/brillouin_zones/index.
php)
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