First Brillouin Zone
Mrs.P.Kanmani,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Physics,
V.V.Vanniaperumal Collge for Women,
Virudhunagar.
First Brillouin zone
What range of K is physically significant for elastic waves?
The ratio of displacements between two successive planes is given by,
𝑢𝑠+1 𝑢 exp 𝑢 exp[𝑖 𝑠 + 1 𝐾𝑎]
=
𝑢𝑠 𝑢 exp(𝑖𝑠𝐾𝑎)
The range – П to + П for the phase Ka covers all independent values of exponential.
Two adjacent atoms cannot be out of phase by more than П .
First Brillouin zone
A relative phase of 1.2 П is physically identical with a relative phase of -0.8 П
and a relative phase of 4.2 П is identical with 0.2 П. Both positive and negative
values of K are needed since wave can propagate in left or right directions.
The range of independent values of K is specified by,
- П <Ka ≤ П, or −П/a <K ≤ П
This range is the Brillouin zone of linear lattice.
First Brillouin zone
Value of K outside of the first Brillouin zone merely reproduce lattice motions
described within the limits ± П/a.
Value of K outside these limits may be treated as wavevector within the limits by
subtracting the integral multiples of 2 П/a.
i.e K’ = K-(2 П/a)
The displacement ratio then can be given as,
𝑢𝑠+1
= exp(iKa) ≡ exp(i2Пn)exp[i(Ka- 2Пn)] ≡ exp(iK’a)
𝑢𝑠
First Brillouin zone
At the boundaries of 𝐾𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ± П/a of the Brillouin zone the solution does not
represent a travelling wave but a standing wave. At the zone boundaries
s 𝐾𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑎 = ± sП whence,
𝑢𝑠 = u exp(±isП ) = 𝑢(−1)𝑠
This is a standing wave. Alternate atoms oscillate in opposite phase since 𝑢𝑠 = ±1
according to s is odd or even integer. The wave neither move to right or left.
First Brillouin zone
The situation is similar to Bragg reflection of X –rays. When Bragg condition is
satisfies a travelling wave cannot propagate in the lattice but through successive
reflections back and forth a standing wave is setup.
The critical value of 𝐾𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ± П/a satisfies Bragg condition,
2d sinθ = nλ, we have θ = 1/2 П, d = a K = 2 П/λ, n=1
So that λ =2a
With X – rays it is possible to have integers more than unity because its amplitude
has meaning in space between the atoms but for displacement it has meaning at
the atom itself,
Long wavelength limits
1 2
At the long wavelength limits Ka<<1, Ka≈1− 𝐾𝑎
2
𝐶
And 𝜔2 = ( )𝐾 2 𝑎2
𝑀
i.e frequency is directly proportional to wavevector . It is equivalent that sound
velocity is independent of frequency in these limits.
