Electronic Devices

(ECE F214)

Lecture – 04

Introduction to Elementary
Quantum Mechanics
Dr. Manish Gupta
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
BITS-Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Why Quantum Mechanics is
Needed…?
❑ Classical Mechanics:

• It deals with the study of the motion of relatively large objects in

accordance with laws given by the Newton.

• The flaws in Newtonian physics are only noticeable when dealing with
very small or very fast (~ speed of light) moving particle.

❑ Quantum Mechanics:

• It mathematically explains the behaviour of atoms and sub-atomic

particle.

• It also describe the behaviour of the fast moving particle (~ speed of

light)

Quantum Physics by H C Verma, 2nd edition, Surya Publication. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Origin of Quantum Mechanics
• The origin of quantum mechanics is connected to understand the
following properties of the light wave

• Light travel in a straight line

• Reflection
• Refraction
• Colors (VIBGYOR)

• In 1680s, Robert Hooke and Christian Huyghens independently

postulated that light was composed of waves.

• In 1704, Newton proposed that light was corpuscular i.e., made up of

particle

• Thus, it is a matter of choice for a person to favour any one of the

proposed theories.

Quantum Physics by H C Verma, 2nd edition, Surya Publication. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Photoelectric Effect

• The phenomena of emission of electrons on shining light on metallic

surfaces is known as photoelectric effect and emitted electrons are
called photoelectrons.

• Let us suppose that monochromatic light is incident on the surface

of a metal plate in a vacuum .

• The electrons in the metal absorb energy from the light, and some
of the electrons receive enough energy to be ejected from the metal
surface into the vacuum.

B.G. Streetman & Sanjay Banerjee, "Solid State Electronic Devices",7th/ 6th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Photoelectric Effect

Plank’s constant

Here, Em is the maximum energy of the escaping electrons, h is the planks

constant (6.62607× 10-34 m2 Kg/s)

B.G. Streetman & Sanjay Banerjee, "Solid State Electronic Devices",7th/ 6th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Photoelectric Effect
• The maximum escaping energy Em
can be measured by placing the
another metallic plate and creating
the electric field in between the plate
• The potential required to retard the
electron flow between the plates isν Potential
Em difference

Em = hν – qφ

q is the electronic charge, h is the plank’s constant, ν

is the frequency of the incident light and φ is the Volts
and it is the property of the metal used

B.G. Streetman & Sanjay Banerjee, "Solid State Electronic Devices",7th/ 6th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Photoelectric Effect
• Work-function: When φ is multiplied by electronic charge (q) i.e. qφ, an
energy (in joules) is obtained which represents the minimum energy
required to for an electron to escape from the metal into a vacuum is
known as work-function.

• Conclusion from the experiment

• Light energy is contained in discrete (photons) unit rather than

continuous distribution of energy

• The energy of the photoelectrons will not increase with the increasing
intensity of the light. However, number of photoelectrons increases

• As per classical physics, a higher energy (or intensity) light wave

packs more and should increase the photoelectron energy

B.G. Streetman & Sanjay Banerjee, "Solid State Electronic Devices",7th/ 6th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Photoelectric Effect
• As per classical physics, a higher energy (or intensity) light wave
packs more and should increase the photoelectron energy

• As per quantum physics, the maximum energy will remains same but
the number of photoelectrons increases

• Thus, light follows wave-particle duality, which is the fundamental of

quantum physics.

❑ Plank’s Relationship
E = hν = (h/2π)× 2πν

E = ℏ𝛚

B.G. Streetman & Sanjay Banerjee, "Solid State Electronic Devices",7th/ 6th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Origin of Quantum Mechanics
❑ Young Double-Slit Experiment

• In the year 18th centaury, Thomas Young came out with an experiment
(Double-Slit experiment) which posed a serious challenge to the
Newton’s particle model of light.

• So, light posses wave nature or particle nature…?

• If light posses particle nature, we can see only

two lines of light on a screen

Quantum Physics by H C Verma, 2nd edition, Surya Publication. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Origin of Quantum Mechanics

https://sciencedemonstrations.fas.harva
rd.edu/presentations/edge-diffraction
• While performing the experiment to study the nature of light, Young
observed the equally spaced dark and bright lines

• So, the conclusion of Double-Slit experiment is Light is a wave

• If the intensity of light is reduced (i.e. few photons emitted per second),
we do not get the interference pattern. Instead, randomness in terms of
where photon hits the screen. Light is a particle

Quantum Physics by H C Verma, 2nd edition, Surya Publication. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Louis de Broglie Hypothesis
• Louis de Broglie’s Hypothesis (Matter
Waves): He proposed that particles
with finite mass, like electrons, would
show wave-like properties with
wavelength directly related to their
mass and speed

• He proposed that a particle of https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/rochester-

momentum p = mv has a wavelength researchers-set-ultrabroadband-record-with-entangled-
photons-498662/
given by

λ = h/p = h/mv

p = h/ λ = h/2π × (2π/λ) = ℏk

Quantum Physics by H C Verma, 2nd edition, Surya Publication. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Atomic Spectra of Hydrogen Atom

B.G. Streetman & Sanjay Banerjee, "Solid State Electronic Devices",7th/ 6th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Atomic Spectra of Hydrogen Atom

Where R is the Rydberg constant (R = 109678 cm-1), c is the velocity of

light (3×108 m/s), n is the integer and ν is the frequency

B.G. Streetman & Sanjay Banerjee, "Solid State Electronic Devices",7th/ 6th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Examples

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_lamp

Typical sodium lamp Typical sodium lamp

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus

Louis de Broglie Hypothesis

• Imagine an electron moving from left to right, the electron can be think of
as a wave packet.

• It has a frequency and wavelength just like a wave but is localised just
like a particle

• Classically, electron can be located exactly, but if it is a wave, where in

the wave is it…?

Quantum Physics by H C Verma, 2nd edition, Surya Publication. BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
Thank you

BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus