Electron in weak potential: Nearly free electron model:

The free electron model of metals gives us good insight the electrical, magnetic properties
etc. but could not explained so many other facts like band structure. The band structure ofa
crystal can be explained by the nearly free electron model where band electrons are treated as
perturbed only weakly by the periodic potential of the ion cores. In this model electronic
behaviors are similar to free electron model except that the mass was replaced by effective
mass and charge carriers in a nearly filled band had to view as holes. This model answers almost
all qualitative questions about the behavior of electrons in metals
In free electron model, the crystal potential is assumed to be very weak compare to the kinetic
energy of electron. Under this condition the allowed bands are board while the forbidden
bands are quite narrow. Here the potential is also periodic and using Fourier series with Vo = 0,

we can write V(r) = Ej»o Vg egT, Here wave function follow Bloch theorem, hence we can
write ) = Uz() e i and Ug(F) = 2io45(k) elhi

1e. y) =
2 45(k) e"lh+R) F
Now using Schrodinger wave equation, we get
-

(o 4;(F) eli+a)*) + (E Ljao Vs a,(E) elh-k+9)* )

Or, h +R) a,(k)e"R-RF ) +(ia}goVga,)elivg)r )

h#0

or, Eeo(h +k) - ¬gla,(E) eli«k)* )+ (EiojoV;a,(&)elh»ivj)* ) = 0

Changing double summation we can write,

Ehul +R) e;la,(K)elä«k)* ) (2EjV, as-a() eaR)" )

-

+ =0

This equation is hold good for any electron, thus we write

2
Or, -

eR) az + Ega0 Vg aR-g =0, where h+k mh+R)

m

NOw considering that all a are zero except h = 0 and put a 1, then E = ¬ 2 2mR

i.e. coincide with the free electron model.

If all a are small except h = 0, ie. an = and eg = e + e, e isvery small then

R -e)a; - j a o Vg a - g or, V i t e a , = LgroVg 4 - g

Setting at h= 0, we obtain e' = Lg»oVg a- = 2j#0

Therefore, ez =
¬* 2+0 eg
Again for =0, we can also write (eg- ) ag= Vga-4 = Vg ag

Or, (eg- + ) a = Vgao

Now multiplyingthese two, we get (ER- ¬) (eR - + a ag = Vga,Vja

(g-) leg-.)- |Val 0

=
Or,

Therefore near degeneracy we' can write

And for exact degeneracy, E

=
et |V hence band width is 2|V

write e-E 0 and hencek* =

+ k)
For a&ao, we can
of reflection.
which show Bragg mirrortype
Or, k2 =
k2 +2k. +g2, or, . (j/2 k) =0, +

=
27T where n 1, 2, 3,.. Then
from Brag8 condition we write,
In one dimension case g a

+ k ) =0, or, =t
a
The reflection and the first energy gap occur at k =t The region in k space betweena t
+is the first Brillouin zone of this lattice. The other energY gap occur for other values or
n
In first Brillouin zone energy limits
are e, =~ +
|Mal and e. = -