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183 views6 pagesDensity of Energy States - Carrier Concentration - Fermi Energy and Average Electron Energy
The document discusses the density of energy states in metals, defining it as the number of available electron states per unit volume within a specific energy interval. It explains how to calculate the number of energy states using quantum numbers and provides equations for carrier concentration and average energy of electrons at absolute zero. Additionally, it introduces the concept of electrons in a periodic potential, contrasting it with the free electron theory to explain the behavior of different solids as conductors, insulators, or semiconductors.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
183 views6 pagesDensity of Energy States - Carrier Concentration - Fermi Energy and Average Electron Energy
The document discusses the density of energy states in metals, defining it as the number of available electron states per unit volume within a specific energy interval. It explains how to calculate the number of energy states using quantum numbers and provides equations for carrier concentration and average energy of electrons at absolute zero. Additionally, it introduces the concept of electrons in a periodic potential, contrasting it with the free electron theory to explain the behavior of different solids as conductors, insulators, or semiconductors.
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2.20 DENSITY OF ENERGY STATES AND CARRIER
CONCENTRATION IN METALS
The Fermi function F (£) gives only the probability of filling up of clectrons
in a given energy state, it does not gives the information about the number of
electrons that can be filled in a given energy state. To know that we should know
the number of available energy states so called density of states.
Definition: Density of energy states Z(E)dE is defined as the number of
available electron states per unit volume in an energy interval (dE).
Explanation: In order to fill the electrons in an energy state we have to first
find the number of available energy states within a given energy interval.
We know that a number of available energy levels can be obtained for various
combinations of quantum numbers 7,.n, and n, (ie) n? =nz +n; +12)
Therefore, let us construct a three dimensional space of points which
represents the quantum numbers n,, 7, and, as shown in Fig. 2.12. In this space
each point represents an energy level.
Fig. 2.12
Number of energy levels in a cubical metal piece
To find the energy levels in a cubical metal piece and to find the number
of electrons that can be filled in the given energy level, let us construct a sphere
of radius ‘n’ in the space.
ed =
|
pe
apresents aE
| repre
‘rhe sphere is further divided
The sf er divided into many. shells and cach of this shell
resents 3
licular combinati t
‘ mation of quantum numbers (n,n, anda) and therefore
articular energy value. aad .
Let us consider to energy ya
| A alues E and E+dE
¢ between nd E+ E+dE, The number of energy
state’ n be found by findin
> shells of radi ng the number of energy states
peaween the shells of radius mand n+ An, from cheers ”
‘The number of energy states within the sphere of radius n=4-1n*
3
Since m,n, and 7, will have only positive values, we have to take only one
octant of the sphere (i.c) 1/8th of the sphere volume.
~. The number of available energy states within the sphere of radius
wall See]
Similarly, the number of available energy states within the sphere of radius
nednag| Sx c+dn |
:. The number of available energy states between the shells of radius n and
n+dn (or) between the energy levels
E and Exde=g| 52040000 |
(ie) The number of available energy states between the energy interval
dE is
2 (6) ae = EAE + di +30? dn Sch? n— WP]
Since the higher powers of dn is very small, dn? and dn? terms can be
neglected.
(1)
(or) Z(E)dE= TnyStey JOP EACCIT WCU ENRINCOF Hg)
We know the energy of the electron in a cubical metal piece of sides
+2)
(or) +3)
Differentiating equation (2) we get
2
2ndn = SME aE
h
2
ndn = 8 ag (4)
2h
Equation (1) can be written as
Z(B) aE =5 n (ndn)
Substituting equation (3) and (4) in the above equation we have
8ml-E YP gmt
zeae 5{ ante | [ sar ae
vo
_ x 1) 8m | | 8m
~“2°2 Kh hn
3/2,
zeoae=3 | P.M dE
3
Here [° represents the volume of the metal picce. eee Properties of Materials 2.27
—
If B=1, then we can write that
The number of available energy states per unit volume (i.e) Density of States
dE
vy
~_m{ 8m ]*
2 ae= 3] | E AS)
I
Since each energy level provides 2 electron states one with spin up and
another with spin down (pauli’s exclusion principle), we have
%
Density of states Z(E) dE=2- 4 rl EB“ dE
7m
+(6)
Carrier Concentration in metals
Let N(E) dE represents the number of filled energy states between the
interval of energy dE. Normally all the energy states will not be filled. The probability
of filling of electrons in a given energy state is given by Fermi function F (E).
N (6) dE=Z(E) dE- F(E) a)
Substituting equation (6) in equation (7), we get
Number of filled energy states per unit volume
+8)
N(E) is known as carrier distribution function (or) Carrier concentration
in metals
Fermi energy at O Kelvin
We know at OK maximum energy level that can occupied by the electron
is called Fermi energy level (Ey)
0
(i.e.,) at 0 Kelvin for E
