LECTURE 04 SOLID STATE PHYSICS -II

SOMMERFELD QUANTUM THEORY OF FREE ELECTRON

The quantum theory of free electron is given by Sommerfeld. The electrons in lattice move
in a constant potential and obeys laws of quantum mechanics. Sommerfeld assumed free nature
of valence electrons and treated the problem quantum mechanically using the FermiDirac
statistics rather than classical MaxwellBoltzmann statistics.
POSTULATES QUANTUM THEORY OF FREE ELECTRON
The main postulates of quantum theory of free electron are:
 The energy levels of conduction electrons are quantized.
 The distribution of electrons in various allowed energy levels follow Pauli Exclusion
Principle.
 The assumptions of classical theory of free electron continue to be applicable in quantum
theory of free electron also.
 The electrons travel in a constant potential inside the metal but stay confined within its
boundaries.
 The attraction between electrons and lattice ions is ignored. The repulsion among the
electrons is ignored.
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN TWO THEORIES
The following assumptions apply to both theories:
 The valence electrons are treated as though they constitute an ideal gas.
 The valence electrons can move freely throughout the body of the solid.
 The mutual repulsion between the electrons and the force of attraction between
the electrons and ions are considered insignificant.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO THEORIES
The differences between classical free electron theory and quantum free electron theory
are:
Classical theory of free electron Quantum theory of free electron
The free electrons which form the The energy values of the free electrons are
electron gas can have continuous discontinuous because energy levels are
energy values. discrete.
Many electrons may possess same The free-electrons obey the Pauli
energy. exclusion principle. Hence no two
electrons can possess same energy.
Pattern of distribution of energy Distribution of energy among the free
among the free electrons obey electrons is according to Fermi Dirac
Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics. statistics which imposes a severe
restriction on the possible way in which
the electrons absorb energy from an
external source.

The possible electronic energy states in the potential energy box and the distribution of
electrons in these states are determined by quantum statistics. The free electron gas in one
dimensional box and three dimensional box is described here.