Density of states The idea here is that while the confinement of an axis gives rise to discrete energies (as we saw in the previous section on confinement), in cases such as the quantum well and quantum wire, there are additional states along the unconfined axes (degrees of freedom). Here it is not practical to try and calculate the energies of each state since they are actually continuous bands or energies. As a consequence one way to get an idea of what the energies look like is to perform the following density of states argument. So when put together with the confined energies from the last section, these density of states calculations provide a more thorough description of what the electronic structure of 3D, 2D, 1D and 0D materials look like. 3 Dimensions (bulk) Consider the volume in “k” space Vix A where for a particle in this sphere ke = as Qn R= Note that the 27 arises from the constraints of a periodic boundary condition as opposed to the more general nn where n = 0,1,2,3.... The volume ofa Scanned with CamScannergiven mode is then kzkykz The number of modes (N) in the sphere are then Ve Anak © Kekyke 8x8 Say the particle is an electron and we consider spin (up and down), multiply N by 2. N La Lyle then we , Aakd N= an = 285 LyLyL: B = gga PabyLes total number of states in sphere Consider the density x = Tory = gat mamber of states/unit volume Now consider the energy density defined as paw “() euiees (5.1) de de 3m? de where recall k = \/28 for a free electron or alternatively k® = (2m¢)*. The expression becomes Eew= Ee } tee aw ¢ a ba? This is the “density of states” in 3 dimensions. Note the square root depen- dence on energy Exercises a) hn 1. Calculate the 3D density of states for free electrong with energy 0.1 eV. Express your answer in terms of eV and em’, mts ok Me ——— 2. Assume the electron resides in a non-zero potential V. Express the 3D density of states in this situation. Hint, just alter the expression for k below equation 5.1. Scanned with CamScannerBs, SF? 2m ve yr . 1 /en)t 2a~ ee » aml 7) ley Bad pete ge Pe Figure 5a: Density of states in a 3D material (bulk) eae BAT Vu PONE we aa ate arr 3 2 Dimensions (well) Here we have 1 dimension that is quantized. Let’s assume its the z direction. ¥& The total energy of this system is a sum of the energy along the quantized direction + the energy along the other 2 “free” directions. It is expressed as WR 12 Im Om En tery 2 Etat = ) where k? = 2 +? and k, 2 Consider now an area in k space Ag = ak? where for the particle The area of a give in the area being Scanned with CamScannerAgain if the particle is an clectron and we consider spin, multiply by 2 to get. KL pLy —~— total number of states in area Qn N'=2N= Consider now a density zLy where recall that k = \/2%. Replacing this above gives me - Lo cet o- ornitt evertag rind TF re as Scanned with CamScannercletren Girbbubie, jn T he _oieres oF 18 acl rp wt et eal akems ™ yt sc Liarto 1 8 Qrodl 2P ortida/ ovzhlsp Hey bet Sepenate mp wo Qnordag Jouantuwm Ddapep, ¢ Scanned with CamScannera | ony duo. Over 60 xf 2&5 (stot __ Choyky orbits lead +o tre | poche Foam 4 h'an ef Omoate cule | The Come? Ppevde +> =, olecrron — |_ Ain WG |$ Aro no SIN of | ae owenkPe orbital: Im Sek dr Man 4 No: ob aren Qmbine their inGvidnal Adonn™ orpitale to fom mang evorty 3puk .que ian of SPods baGGRs fern 4 Canrbheenrg band - Scanned with CamScanner424. p23_2¢- methemale Londen chess — ln Sulaks. ___3 _ a zh Scanned with CamScannerclassmate aa Ay pecnte nae € f pale Qe ar WiVhdeuat anh exe LOMB Ath snd ior 'd Can be wnathead thae 2 mereah AS 98 Grete path Lele ~ a F2em herrek: yp mt nucle _ Electrons ase banely beurrd | de Aucleug (M me hear est | Tpnen mesh OWL BF PLIS bony oCCUME OD Wable baAror- pues eseechen ¥ ore ny aveth able betwen fre baos ger due Anclincfier > ease S AMT canned wi amscanner | [ |Scanned with CamScanner