NCN

www.nanohub.org

EE-606: Solid State Devices

Lecture 3: Elements of Quantum Mechanics
Muhammad Ashraful Alam
alam@purdue.edu

Alam ECE-606 S09 1

Outline

1) Why do we need quantum physics

2) Quantum concepts
3) Formulation of quantum mechanics
4) Conclusions

Reference: Vol. 6, Ch. 1 (pages 23-32)

Alam ECE-606 S09 2

 Do I really need Quantum Mechanics ?

Periodic
Original Structure
Problem Electrons in periodic
potential: Problem
we want to solve

If it were large objects, like a skier skiing past a set of obstacles,

Newton’s mechanics would work fine, but in a micro-world ……

Alam ECE-606 S09 3

Carrier Density

Carrier number = Number of states x filling factor

Chapters 2-3 Chapter 4

Total number of occupants

= Number of apartments
X The fraction occupied

Alam ECE-606 S09 4

Outline

1) Why do we need quantum physics

2) Quantum concepts
3) Formulation of quantum mechanics
4) Conclusions

Alam ECE-606 S09 5

Four Quantum Concepts ..

• Blackbody Radiation

• Photoelectric Effect

• Bohr Atom

• Wave Particle Duality

Alam ECE-606 S09 6

(1) black-body radiation
2000 K

1000 K

300 K

7
Alam ECE-606 S08
 2000 K Rayleigh-Jeans Formula

u ( λ , T ) ∝ k BT / λ 4
(u)

log(u ) = −4 log(λ ) + log(T )

Wein’s Formula
− β / λT
e
u∝
λ 5

Plank’s fitting formula

1 ⎡ 1 ⎤
u ( λ , T ) ∝ 5 ⎢ β / λT ⎥
λ ⎣e − 1⎦

8
Interpretation of Plank’s Formula

dλ 1 ⎡ 1 ⎤ dλ c
u ( f , T ) = u (λ , T ) ~ 5 ⎢ β / λT ⎥ λ=
df λ ⎣e − 1 ⎦ df f
⎛ 1 ⎞
~ f × hf × ⎜ hf / kT ⎟
2

⎝e −1 ⎠

nos. of Occupation
modes Probability
Energy
of mode

EM emission occurs in discrete quanta of

E = hf n=1,2, …….. N
Alam ECE-606 S09 9
 Recent Example: COBE Data

J.C. Mather, Astrophysics J., 1990.

Show that the cosmic background temperature is

approximately 3K. Can you “see” this radiation?
Alam ECE-606 S09 10
(2) Photoelectric Effect
E = (hf-W)
Electrons

Light (hf)

qVR ≈ 1( 2) m0υ 2 = hf − W
υ cathode

VR
-W hf VR

W hf

Absorption occurs in quanta as well, consistent with photons having E=hf

Alam ECE-606 S09 11
 Origin of Quantization

frequency

⎛ 1 1 ⎞
Em ,n = const × ⎜ 2 − 2 ⎟
⎝m n ⎠

Alam ECE-606 S09 12

(3) Bohr Atom ..

Assume that angular momentum is quantized:

υ = n= / m0 rn

Alam ECE-606 S09 13

(3) Bohr Atom (continued) …

⎛ 1 1 ⎞
Em ,n = const × ⎜ 2 − 2 ⎟
⎝m n ⎠
Alam ECE-606 S09 14
 (4) Wave-Particle Duality

Photons act both as wave and particle, what about electrons ?

E = m0 c + p c2 4 2 2

hf = pc m0=0 (photon rest mass)

p = hf / c
= h / λ (because c = λf )
==k (because k = 2π / λ )
Alam ECE-606 S09 15
Outline

1) Why do we need quantum physics

2) Quantum concepts
3) Formulation of Schrodinger Equation
4) Conclusions

Alam ECE-606 S09 16

 Schrodinger Equation for electrons

E = m0 c + p c ≈ m0 c ⎣1 + p c / 2m0 c + ...⎤⎦
2 4 2 2
⎡ 2 2 2 2 4

E − m0c 2
= V + (p / 2m0 ) 2

hf = =ω = V + (= k / 2m0 ) 2 2

Alam ECE-606 S09 17

 Schrodinger Equation (continued)

=ω = (= k / 2m0 ) + V
2 2

Assume, Ψ ( x, t ) = A exp(−i (ωt − kx))

d Ψ / dt = −iωΨ and d Ψ / dx = − k Ψ
2 2 2

dΨ ⎛ = d Ψ⎞
2 2
i= = ⎜− 2 ⎟
+V Ψ
dt ⎝ 2m0 dx ⎠
Alam ECE-606 S09 18
 Conclusions

1. Given chemical composition and atomic arrangements,

we can compute electron density by using quantum mechanics.

2. We discussed the origin of quantum mechanics –

experiments were inconsistent with the classical theory.

3. We saw how Schrodinger equation can arise

as a consequence of quantization and relativity,
but this is not a derivation.

4. We will solve some toy problems in the next class

to get a feeling of how to use quantum mechanics.

Alam ECE-606 S09 19