B20QD1 Solid State Physics

John I B Wilson

Outline part 1
1. Reminder of B23SD3 2. Crystal structure & defects 3. Brillouin zones

1.1 Free electron model of metals

Classical model by Drude and Lorentz was modified by Sommerfeld (1928) to incorporate quantum statistics (particle in a box solution of Schrdinger eqn. and Fermi-Dirac statistics) Successes: high thermal conductivity and the relation between electrical and thermal conductivity (Wiedemann-Franz law) and optical appearance explained Introduced the density of states (DOS): number of levels (states) per small increment of energy

1.2 Nearly free electron model

To explain semiconductors and insulators! Kronig-Penney used periodic potential for the lattice effect on conduction electrons Electrons now only allowed to have certain values of energy, separated by forbidden energy gaps Concept of effective mass of charge carriers and holes as mobile positive charges Consideration of binding energy as atoms come closer also leads to energy bands

1.3 Semiconductors
Occupancy of conduction and valence bands by electrons and holes defined by Fermi energy Temperature dependent conductivity P- and N-type doping to control conductivity Majority and minority carriers PN junction behaviour

2. Crystal structure & defects

When solids condense from gases or liquids, they do so because the energy of the whole set of atoms is reduced by formation of the new phase. Calculating the binding energy of the solid is difficult because it is equal to the difference between BE @T=0 two sets of strong forces. Position and shape of the
(UR) = l e-R/r

potential energy minimum gives BE, atomic spacing, thermal expansion, elastic constants, modes of vibration,

Atom spacing @T=0

3. Brillouin Zones
The limited region in k-space, -p/a k +p/a, that we found was needed to provide the phonon dispersion curves, w vs. k, is actually the Brillouin zone for that particular structure. (This also defines the shortest wavelength phonon that can exist, l / 2 = a.) The set of atomic planes that define the strong Bragg reflection of electrons in solids, are solid shapes in k-space with the same symmetry as the lattice, such as those shown below for two cubic lattices.