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(Engineering Physics)
Free electron theory
+ -
!
Relationship between current, drift velocity & current density
Mean free path (λ):
v The average distance travelled by a free electron between any two successive
collisions in the presence of an applied electric field is known as mean free path. It is
the product of drift velocity vd of free electron and collision time ιc.
ü It was able to explain the properties of metals such as Electrical and thermal
conductivity.
ü Ohm’s law
ü Wiedemann-Franz law (relationship between electric and thermal conductivity)
ü Optical properties of metals like high luster.
Failure (Free electron theory)
Kronig Penney
model
Energy E Vs Wave number K Diagram
Band Theory
Band Theory
Eg > 3 eV Eg < 3 eV Eg = 0
Semiconductor
• Doped with trivalent impurities e.g. • Doped with pentavalent impurities e.g.
Indium , Gallium, Aluminium, Boron Phosphorus (P), Arsenic (As), Antimony
• Majorities carriers - holes (Sb)
• Minorities carriers - electron • Majorities carriers – electrons
• Impurities are acceptor • Minorities carriers - Holes
• Impurities are donor
Direct band gap semiconductor
Indirect band gap semiconductor are not used for making optical device
Effective mass
Hall Effect
,!#( 1
&! = ⟹ ,! =
+ )!
&!+
,! = RH is Hall coefficient
#(
RH unit (SI) is m3/c
If RH < 0 then electrons are majority charge carriers (n type semiconductor)
! = #$% 0 is conductivity
% 1 Mobility (drift velocity / electric field)
!=
&/ e is unit charge
% = &/ !
Fermi energy distribution function
The photovoltaic effect occurs in solar cells. These solar cells are composed
of two different types of semiconductors - a p-type and an n-type - that are
joined together to create a p-n junction.