University of Salahaddin

College of Science
Physics Department

Fermi-Dirac distribution
Nazar L Muttalib
Msc student
Supervisor: Professor Dr.Tariq A. Abass

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 Outline
• Fermi-Dirac Statistics
• Postulates of Fermi particles
• The Fermi-Dirac Probability function
• Fermi-Dirac distribution Law
• Fermi-Dirac distribution: Consider T 0K
• Fermi-Dirac distribution for several Temperatures
• When Fermi-Dirac approaches Maxwell –Boltzmann
• Conclusion
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Fermi-Dirac statistics
• Fermi-Dirac statistics is one of the three fundamental statistical
distributions used to describe the behavior of particles in quantum
mechanics. It specifically applies to a class of particles called fermions,
which include electrons, protons, and neutrons.
• Fermi-Dirac statistics was developed by Enrico Fermi and Paul Dirac and is
based on the principles of quantum mechanics and the Pauli exclusion
principle. The Pauli exclusion principle states that no two identical
fermions can occupy the same quantum state simultaneously.
• Fermi-Dirac statistics is used to describe various phenomena involving
fermions, such as electronic behavior in metals, semiconductors, and
superconductors. It provides insights into the occupation of energy states
and the behavior of fermions at different temperatures.
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Fermi-Dirac statistics
• The Pauli exclusion principle states that no two identical fermions can
occupy the same quantum state simultaneously.
• Indistinguishable particles obey Pauli exclusion principle Calles fermions.
• Microstate is the way of distribution of the particles in the phase state
(how the particles distributes in the phase state).

No two fermions can

exist in identical
energy quantum
Applied to atoms states Applies to solids

No two electrons in an atom can No two electrons in an atom can have

have identical quantum identical energy states.this leads to
numbers. This guides the the concept of the fermi level in band
modeling of the buildup of the theory of solids
12/11/2023 Periodic Table 4
Postulates of Fermi Particles
Particles are indistinguishable
Particles obey Pauli principle.
Each quantum state can have only one particle.
Each particle has one half spin.
 gi be the quantum states associates with ith energy level.
is the no.of particles associated with ith energy level.
For a particular value of ni there is only one distribution.

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The Fermi-Dirac Probability function
If the ith energy level with gi quantum states.
There are gi ways of choosing where to place the first particle,(gi -1)ways of choosing where to place
the second particle, (gi -2)ways of choosing where to place the third particle, and so on. Then the total
number of ways of arranging ni particles in the ith energy level (where ni gi ) is:
(gi )(gi -1)…………….(gi –(ni -1))=
This expression includes all permutation of the ni particles among themselves.
Because the particles are indistinguishable:
Pi = probability of distribution for each level

P= The total number of ways in which the N particles can be distributed

among the possible energy levels ( most probable distribution)

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Example to illustrate most probable distribution
• Suppose the energy level contain 3 cells and two indistinguishable
particles. Find the number of the distribution ways?
• == = =3

Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell 3

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Fermi-Dirac distribution Law
The most probable distribution function as
Ef =fermi energy or fermi level
k = Boltzmann constant
J/K=8.6eV/K 1.38=
T =absolute temp in K

This function is called Fermi-Dirac distribution or probability function and gives

the probability that a quantum state at energy E will be occupied by an electron.
Or f(E) is the ratio of filled to total quantum states at energy E.
Where Ef is Fermi energy. It is the maximum level that the electron occupied at
absolute zero temperature, below this level all states filled and above which all
states empty at T=0K.
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Fermi-Dirac distribution: Consider T 0K

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Fermi-Dirac distribution: Consider T > 0 K
• When the temperature increases above T=0 K.
• Electrons gain a certain amount of thermal energy so that some electrons can jump to higher
energy levels, which means that the distribution of electrons among the available energy
states will change.
• It should be noted that the Fermi-Dirac distribution function F(E) does not give the number
of particles with energy Ei , but give number of particles occupying the state i which has an
energy Ei .In order to find the number of particles ni with energy Ei we need to multiply the
F(E) by number of states gi having the energy Ei : ni =gi F(E)

9by number of states gi having the energy

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Fermi-Dirac distribution for several Temperatures

The F-D distribution is plotted for The function f(E) is symmetrical with the function
several temperatures , assuming the (1-f(E)) about Fermi energy Ef
Fermi energy is independent on
temperature
Occupied unoccupied
probability probability

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When Fermi-Dirac approaches Maxwell –Boltzmann

• Consider the case when E- Ef >> kT, where the exponential term in the
denominator of Equation is much greater than unity.
• We may neglect the one in the denominator, so the Fermi-Dirac distribution
function becomes this equation is known as the Maxwell –
Boltzmann approximation, or the simply the Boltzmann approximation to the
Fermi-Dirac distribution function.

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 Conclusion
 The Fermi-Dirac distribution function is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics that describes the
statistical behavior of fermions at different temperatures. It provides the probability of finding a fermion in a
particular energy state. The distribution function exhibits different behaviors depending on the temperature.

 At low temperatures, the distribution function approaches a step function, where all energy states below the
Fermi energy are occupied and all energy states above are unoccupied. As the temperature increases, the
distribution function transitions smoothly between occupied and unoccupied states. At high temperatures,
the distribution function decreases exponentially with increasing energy.

 The Fermi-Dirac distribution function is crucial for understanding various phenomena in condensed matter
physics, such as electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and the behavior of electrons in metals and
semiconductors. It plays a significant role in describing the behavior of fermions in quantum systems.

 Overall, the Fermi-Dirac distribution function provides a fundamental framework for understanding the
statistical behavior of fermions at different temperatures and is a cornerstone of quantum statistical
mechanics.
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References
1.https://nanohub.org/courses/OED/01a/outline/unit2electronicstructure/l24the
fermienergyandthedensityofstates.
2- Statistical Physics (2nd Edition),F.Mandl,Manchester physics , Tohn Willy & Sons 2008,ISBN
9780471915331.
3- H.J.W. Muller-Kristen, Basics of Statistical Physics, 2nd ed.World Scientific, ISBN: 978-981-
4449-53-3.
4-Introduction statistical physics, Silvia R. A. Salinas.
5-Fermi dirac distribution | PPT (slideshare.net)

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 Thank You for Your Listening

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Fermi-Dirac statistics
• The wave function of a system of identical particles must be antisymmetrical in
permutation of a particle of the particle coordinates(including spin).
• The wave function of a system of identical fermions must be antisymmetric under
the exchange of particle labels. That means if we interchange the positions of any
two fermions in the system, the wave function should change sign.
Mathematically, for a system of two identical fermions labeled as 1 and 2, the
antisymmetric condition can be expressed as:
• ψ(1,2) = -ψ(2,1)

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The Fermi-Dirac distribution applies to fermions, particles with half-
integer spin which must obey the Pauli exclusion principle.

These transitions involve the excitation of electrons from occupied

states (valence band) to unoccupied states (conduction band) in the
electronic band structure of the metal.

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