Thomas Ihn

Semiconductor Nanostructures
Fall 2017

Exercise sheet 4 handed out: 11.10.2016

Topics: Envelope function and effective mass approximation in silicon discussed: 18.10.2016

Problem 1: Hydrogen-like impurity in silicon

In silicon, the hamiltonian for the conduction band envelope function in the effective
mass approximation is given by

h̄2 ∂ 2 h̄2 ∂2 ∂2
 
H= + + + Vc (r),
2mL ∂x2 2mT ∂y 2 ∂z 2

where Vc (r) = e2 /4πεε0 r is the Coulomb potential, and mL and mT are the longitudinal
and transverse effective masses, respectively. Consider the case mL = mT + ∆m, where
∆m/mT  1. Work out qualitatively the effect of the presence of ∆m on the energies
of the 1s-, 2s-, and 2p-states of a hydrogen-like impurity using perturbation theory.
Which levels are merely shifted in energy, and which states do mix as a result of the
perturbation? Make use of symmetry arguments.