Free Electron Model: Drude Theory of Metals

Contents
• Basic Assumptions of the Model
• Collision or Relaxation
• Times DC Electrical Conductivity
• Thermal Conductivity
• Thermopower
• Success and Limitation of Drude Model
 Free Electron Model: Drude Theory of Metals

In 1897 J.J. Thomson Discovered the electron

1900- Three years later ( after Thomson discovery of the
Paul Drude
electron), Drude constructed his theory of electrical and
thermal conductivity of metals by using of the highly
successful kinetic theory of glasses.
This model is shown schematically in the figure.
(a) : A single isolated atom of the metallic element has a nucleus
of charge 𝒆𝒁𝒂 where 𝒁𝒂 is the atomic number and 𝑒 = 1.9 ×
10−19 𝐶 is the magnitude of the electronic charge. Surrounding the
nucleus are 𝑍 electrons of total charge −𝑒𝑍𝑎 . A few of these, Z,
are the relatively weakly bound valence electrons ( participate in
chemical reactions). The remaining, Za – Z electrons are relatively
tightly bound to the nucleus, play much less of a role in chemical (a) Schemalie picture of an isolated atom (not to
reactions, and are known as the core electrons. scale).
(b): When these isolated atoms condense to form a metal, the core (b) In a metal the nucleus and ion core retain their
electrons remain bound to the nucleus to form the metallic ion but configuration in the free atom. but the valence
the valence electrons wander far away from their parent atoms electrons leave the atom to form the electron gas.
called conduction electrons or electrons.
 Free Electron Model: Drude Theory of Metals

Basic assumptions of Drude Model:

➢ Electrons in a metal behave like particle in an ideal gas. ( No coulomb interaction
and collision between electrons). Independent electron approximation.
➢ The effect of e-e and e-ion interaction is ignored.
➢ Mean free time between collision is τ. It is independent of electron position and Figure 1: Trajectory of a
conduction electron
velocity.
scattering off the ions.
➢ After collisions, they move in random direction with a speed that depends on the according to the naive
temperature of the region where collision occurred i.e. hotter the region higher is picture of Drude .
the speed of emerging electrons.

❑ An electron experiences a collision with a probability per unit time 1/τ, i.e. the probability to undergo a
collision within small time dt is dt/τ –randomly picked electron travels for a time τ before the next collision .
The time τ is known as the relaxation time, the collision time, or the mean free time.
❖ Once a scattering event occurs, we assume the electron returns to momentum p = 0.
❖ In between scattering events, the electrons respond to the externally applied electric field E and magnetic
field B.
 Free Electron Model: Drude Theory of Metals

V = RI ( Ohm’s low) L

For a current I flowing in a wire of length L and cross-sectional area A, the current A
density along the wire is j = I/A. Since 𝑉 = 𝐸𝐿, we get 𝑉 = (𝜌𝐼/𝐴)L hence
𝜌𝐿
𝑅= ⟹ 𝜌 = 𝑅 𝐴Τ𝐿
𝐴
Then using these results, we can write we can write Ohm’s law as E= 𝝆j or j = σ𝑬

Then using Drude model:

➢ We consider an electron with momentum p at time t. What momentum it will have at time (t + dt) ?
There is a probability dt/τ that it will scatter to momentum zero. Rest of the electrons do not scatter to
momentum zero (with probability (1 − dt/τ)) it simply accelerates as dictated by its usual equations of motion
dp/dt = F → dp=Fdt.

𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝐩(𝑡 + 𝑑𝑡) = 1 − ⋅ 𝐩(𝑡) + 𝐹(𝑡)𝑑𝑡 + ⋅ 0 + F t 𝑑𝑡
𝜏 𝜏

fraction of electrons that does not fraction of electrons that

experience scattering experience scattering
 Free Electron Model: Drude Theory of Metals

Hence the effect of individual electron collisions is to introduce a frictional

damping term to the equation of motion.

where here the force F on the electron is just the Lorentz force

In the absence of any externally applied field the solution to this differential equation is just an exponentially
decaying momentum

which is what we should expect for particles that lose momentum by scattering.
 Free Electron Model: Drude Theory of Metals

Electrons in an Electric Field

Let us start by considering the case where the electric field is non-zero but the magnetic field is zero. Our
equation of motion is then

Now, if there is a density n of electrons in the metal each with charge −e, and they are all moving at velocity v,
then the electrical current is given by

𝑛𝑒 2 𝜏 𝑛𝑒 2 𝜏
𝒋 = −𝑒𝑛𝑣 =
𝑚
𝐄 = 𝜎E Where, = 1/r = s, Conductivity
𝑚
 Free Electron Model: Drude Theory of Metals

➢ At room temperature, r of metals are typically of the order of mohm-cm and t is typically 10-14 – 10-15 s

➢ Therefore, the mean free path l=v0t, where v0 is the average electron speed .
➢ The distance l measures the average distance an electron travels betweenv0 collisions.
➢ Estimation of v0 using Drude’s model is given as
1 2 mv0 = 3 2 kBT
2
➢ → v0~107 cm/s → l ~ 1 – 10 Å

Since this distance is comparable with the interatomic spacing, the result is consistent with Drude’s original
view that collisions are due to electron bumping into large heavy ions.

However, today by working at sufficiently low temperatures a mean free path of the order of centimeter ( i.e.108
interatomic spacings!) can be achieved . This is a strong evidence that the electrons do not simply bump off the
ions! as Drude supposed.

Note: The Drude model can be applied where a precise understanding of the scattering mechanism is not
required. In this case it becomes important use Drude perdictions to find quantities independent of the value of
relaxation time 𝜏.
 Free Electron Model: Drude Theory of Metals

Drude was brave enough to attempt to further calculate the thermal conductivity κ due to
mobile electrons using Boltzmann’s kinetic theory of gas.

where cv is the heat capacity per particle, <v> is the average thermal velocity and λ = <v>τ
is the scattering length.

For a conventional (monatomic) gas the heat capacity per particle and average thermal
velocity are

Assuming this all holds true for electrons, we obtain

 Free Electron Model
Drude Theory of Metals: Thermal Conductivity (Wiedemann –Franz Law)
The most impressive success of the Drude model at the time it was proposed was its explanation of Wiedemann –Franz law.
In 1853, long before Drude’s time, Gustav Wiedemann and Rudolf Franz formulated their empirical law of thermal
conductivity which stated that “for metals at not too low temperatures the ratio 𝜅 Τ𝜎 of the thermal to electrical
conductivity is directly proportional to temperature, with proportionality constant which is to a fair accuracy the same for
all metals 𝜅
= 𝐿𝑇
𝜎
Where L is know as Lorenz number L . Normally, Wiedemann –Franz law is written as

𝜅
≡𝐿 ( L is nearly constant for all metals at room T and above) Gustav Wiedemann
𝜎𝑇

According to Drude Model:

The result appears to be off by about a factor of 2, but still that is very good,
considering that before Drude no one had any idea why this ratio should be a
constant at all!
 Free Electron Model
Drude Theory of Metals: Thermal Conductivity (Wiedemann –Franz Law)
 Free Electron Model
Drude Theory of Metals: Thermal Conductivity (Wiedemann –Franz Law)

Most metals the actual value of this ratio is roughly

100 times smaller!
 Free Electron Model
Drude Theory of Metals: Success and Failures of Drude Model

Successes of Drude theory:

Failures of Drude theory:

 Free Electron Model
Drude Theory of Metals

Ref.
1. Solid State physics, N. Ashcroft and N. Mermin ch.1
2. Introduction to solid state physics ( Charless Kittel ( 8 Edition) Ch.6
3. Elementary Solid state physics ( M. A. Omar ) ch.4