Ibn Zohr University ‫ﻛﺎ‬

‫ﺃ‬ ‫ﺑﻦ ﺯﻫﺮ ـ‬

‫ﺔﺍ‬
‫جامعة ابن زهر‬
‫الكلية متعددة التخصصات‬

‫ﺩﻳﺮ‬

‫ﺎ ﻣﻌ‬
‫ﺟ‬
Polydisciplinary Faculty
‫ المغرب‬،‫ورزازات‬

UN

IR
AD
IV
Ouarzazate, Morocco RS

G
ITÉ -A
IBN ZOHR

Exam of Solid State Physics∗

Responsible: Prof. H. Chaib
Section: MME, Semester: 1, Year: 2020/2021
Date: 20-03-2021 at 09:00, Duration: 120 min

Problem 1
Consider a two-dimensional free electron gas for which the electrons are confined within a
rectangular box of edges Lx and Ly , where Lx > Ly (Figure below). The potential energy
is zero inside the box and infinite outside it. The wave function ψ(x, y) describing the
quantum state of an electron of the gas can be written as ψ(x, y) = ϕx (x)ϕy (y).

⃗ey Ly

O ⃗ex Lx

1. Find the differential equation satisfied by the wave function ψ(x, y).
2. By using the method of separation of variables, find the differential equation satisfied
by each one of the functions ϕx (x) and ϕy (y).
3. By solving these equations, find the expressions of the functions ϕx (x) and ϕy (y);
the corresponding quantum numbers have to be labelled nx and ny .
4. What is the complete name of the boundary conditions used in the last questions?
5. What are the values of nx and ny representing significant physical quantum states?
6. Find the expression of the normalized wave function ψ(x, y).
7. Express the energy Enx ,ny as a function of nx , ny , Lx and Ly .
8. Determine the degeneracy of the fundamental level and that of the first and second
excited levels.
In the following, we are interested in studying the state of an electron of the gas by using
⃗
a travelling wave of the form ψ⃗k (⃗r) = Aeik·⃗r and the periodic boundary conditions (i.e.
ψ(x, y) = ψ(x + Lx , y) and ψ(x, y) = ψ(x, y + Ly )).
9. Express the components kx and ky of the wave vector ⃗k as a function of the quantum
numbers nx and ny and the edges Lx and Ly of the box.
10. Find the expression of the Fermi energy EF as a function of the number N of free
electrons in the gas and the area S = Lx Ly of the box.
11. Determine the number Z of electrons having an energy lower than or equal to E.
12. Deduce the expression of the density of states D(E).
∗
The electronic version of the statement and that of the correction of this exam will be posted online,
immediately after the date/time displayed above, on the website: http://chaib.fpo.ma/teaching/.

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Exam of Solid State Physics (20-03-2021) - MME-S1 2/2

Problem 2
Consider a linear chain characterized by a lattice constant a and a basis made up of two
different atoms of masses m1 and m2 . The equilibrium positions of these two atoms within
the unit cell are, respectively, 0 and a/2. For a given atom l:
• xl denotes the equilibrium position. The origin of space coincides with the equilib-
rium position of the atom having l = 0.
• ul denotes the longitudinal displacement from its equilibrium position.
We consider only interactions between nearest neighbours which are characterized by the
force constant C.
a
C
m1 m2
a/2
2n − 2 2n − 1 2n 2n + 1 2n + 2 2n + 3

1. Determine the expressions of x2n and x2n+1 as a function of n and a.

2. Give the total force F2n acting on the atom 2n and the total force F2n+1 acting on
the atom 2n + 1.
3. Determine the equation of motion of the atom 2n and that of the atom 2n + 1.
We are interested in solutions of the form u2n = Aeikx2n e−iωt and u2n+1 = Beikx2n+1 e−iωt .
4. Find the dispersion relations ω(k).
The plots of these dispersion relations within the first Brillouin zone are shown in the
figure below.

ch β
Bran
Angular frequency

Br
a nc
h
α

− πa 0 π
a
k

5. Specify the name of each branch.

6. Determine the ratio of amplitudes A/B for each one of these two branches at the
centre of the Brillouin zone.
7. What the obtained values mean concerning the vibration of adjacent atoms?
8. Find the expression of the group velocity vg at the centre of the Brillouin zone for
the branch α as a function of a, m1 , m2 and C.