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More Bandstructure Discussion. Model Bandstructure Problem One-dimensional, “almost free” electron model (easily generalized to 3D!) (BW, Ch. 2 & Kittel’s book, Ch. 7). “ Almost free ” electron approach to bandstructure. 1 e - Hamiltonian : H = (p) 2 /(2m o ) + V(x); p -i ħ (d/dx)
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Model Bandstructure ProblemOne-dimensional, “almost free” electron model (easily generalized to 3D!) (BW, Ch. 2 & Kittel’s book, Ch. 7) • “Almost free” electron approach to bandstructure. 1 e- Hamiltonian:H = (p)2/(2mo) + V(x); p -iħ(d/dx) V(x) V(x + a) = Effective potential, period a(lattice repeat distance) GOAL • Solve the Schrödinger Equation: Hψ(x) = εψ(x) Periodic potential V(x) ψ(x) must have the Bloch form: ψk(x) = eikx uk(x), with uk(x) = uk(x + a)
The set of vectors in “k space” of the form G = (nπ/a), (n = integer) are calledReciprocal Lattice Vectors • Expand the potential in a Fourier series: Due to periodicity, only wavevectors for which k = G enter the sum. V(x) V(x + a) V(x) = ∑GVGeiGx (1) The VG depend on the functional form of V(x) V(x) is realV(x)= 2 ∑G>0 VGcos(Gx) • Expand the wavefunction in a Fourier series ink: ψ(x) = ∑kCkeikx(2) Put V(x) from (1) & ψ(x) from (2) into the Schrödinger Equation:
The Schrödinger Equation: Hψ(x) = εψ(x) or [-{ħ2/(2mo)}(d2/dx2) + V(x)]ψ(x) = εψ(x) Insert the Fourier series for both V(x) & ψ(x) • Manipulation (see BW or Kittel) gets, For each Fourier component of ψ(x): (λk - ε)Ck + ∑GVGCk-G = 0 (3) where λk= (ħ2k2)/(2mo) (the free electron energy) • Eq. (3) is the k space Schrödinger Equation A set of coupled, homogeneous, algebraic equations for the Fourier componentsof the wavefunction. Generally, this is intractable: There are an number of Ck !
The k space Schrödinger Equation is: (λk - ε)Ck + ∑GVGCk-G = 0 (3) where λk= (ħ2k2)/(2mo) (the free electron energy) • Generally, (3) is intractable! # of Ck ! But, in practice, need only a few. Solution:Determinant of coefficients of theCk is set to0: That is, it is an determinant! • Aside:Another Bloch’s Theorem proof:Assume (3) is solved. Then, ψhas the form: ψk(x) = ∑GCk-G ei(k-G)x or ψk(x) = (∑GCk-Ge-iGx) eikx uk(x)eikx where uk(x) = ∑G Ck-G e-iGx It’s easy to show the uk(x) = uk(x + a) ψk(x) is of the Bloch form!
The k space Schrödinger Equation: (λk - ε)Ck + ∑GVGCk-G = 0 (3) where λk= (ħ2k2)/(2mo) (the free electron energy) • Eq. (3) is a set of simultaneous, linear, algebraic equations connecting the Ck-Gfor all reciprocal lattice vectors G. • Note:If VG = 0 for all reciprocal lattice vectors G, then ε = λk = (ħ2k2)/(2mo) Free electron energy“bands”.
The k space Schrödinger Equation is: (λk - ε)Ck + ∑GVGCk-G = 0 (3) where λk= (ħ2k2)/(2mo) (the free electron energy) = Kinetic Energy of the electron in the periodic potential V(x) • Consider the Special Case: All VG are small in comparison with the kinetic energy, λk except for G = (2π/a) & for k at the 1st BZ boundary, k = (π/a) For k away from the BZ boundary, the energy band is the free electron parabola: ε(k) = λk = (ħ2k2)/(2mo) For k at the BZ boundary, k = (π/a), Eq. (3) is a 2 2 determinant
In this special case:As a student exercise (see Kittel), show that, for k at the BZ boundary k = (π/a), the k space Schrödinger Equation becomes 2 algebraic equations: (λ- ε) C(π/a) + VC(-π/a) = 0 VC(π/a) + (λ- ε)C(-π/a) = 0 where λ= (ħ2π2)/(2a2mo); V = V(2π/a) = V-(2π/a) • Solutions for the bandsεat the BZ boundary are: ε = λ V (from the 2 2 determinant): Away from the BZ boundary the energy band εis a free electron parabola. At the BZ boundary there is a splitting: A gap opens up!εG ε+ - ε- = 2V
Now, lets look at in more detail at knear(but not at!) the BZ boundary to get the k dependence of ε near the BZ boundary: Messy! Student exercise (see Kittel) to show that the Free Electron Parabola SPLITS into 2 bands, with a gap between: ε(k) = (ħ2π2)/(2a2mo) V + ħ2[k- (π/a)2]/(2mo)[1 (ħ2π2 )/(a2moV)] This also assumes that |V| >> ħ2(π/a)[k- (π/a)]/mo. For the more general, complicated solution, see Kittel!
Almost Free e-Bandstructure:(Results, from Kittel for the lowest two bands) ε = (ħ2k2)/(2mo) V V
Brief Interlude:General Bandstructure Discussion(1d, but easily generalized to 3d)Relate bandstructure to classical electronic transport Given an energy band ε(k)(a Schrödinger Equation eigenvalue): The Electron is a Quantum Mechanical Wave • From Quantum Mechanics, the energyε(k) & the frequency ω(k) are related by:ε(k) ħω(k)(1) • Now, from Classical Wave Theory, the wave group velocityv(k) is defined as:v(k) [dω(k)/dk](2) • Combining (1) & (2) gives: ħv(k) [dε(k)/dk] • The QM wave (quasi-)momentum is: p ħk
Now, a simple“Quasi-Classical” Transport Treatment! • “Mixing up” classical & quantum concepts! • Assume that the QM electron responds to an EXTERNALforce, FCLASSICALLY(as a particle). That is, assume that Newton’s 2nd Law is valid: F = (dp/dt)(1) • Combine this with theQMmomentum p = ħk & get: F = ħ(dk/dt)(2) Combine (1) with the classical momentum p = mv: F = m(dv/dt) (3) Equate (2) & (3) & also for v in (3) insert the QM group velocity: v(k) = ħ-1[dε(k)/dk](4)
So, this “Quasi-classical” treatment gives F = ħ(dk/dt) = m(d/dt)[v(k)] = m(d/dt)[ħ-1dε(k)/dk](5) or, using the chain rule of differentiation: ħ(dk/dt) = mħ-1(dk/dt)(d2ε(k)/dk2) (6) Note!!(6) can only be true if the e- mass m is given by m ħ2/[d2 ε(k)/dk2](& NOTmo!) (7) m EFFECTIVE MASSof e- in the bandε(k)at wavevectork.Notation: m = m* = me • The Bottom Line is:Under the influence of an external forceF The e- responds Classically(According to Newton’s 2nd Law)BUTwith a Quantum Mechanical Massm*,notmo!
m The EFFECTIVE MASSof the e- in band ε(k)at wavevector k m ħ2/[d2ε(k)/dk2] • Mathematically, m [curvature of ε(k)]-1 • This is for 1d. It is easily shown that: m [curvature of ε(k)]-1 also holds in 3d!! In that case, the 2nd derivative is taken along specific directions in 3d k space & the effective mass is actually a 2nd rank tensor.
m [curvature of ε(k)]-1 Obviously, we can havem > 0 (positive curvature) or m < 0 (negative curvature) • Consider the case of negative curvature: m < 0 for electrons For transport & other properties, the charge to mass ratio (q/m) often enters. For bands with negative curvature, we can either 1. Treat electrons(q = -e) with me < 0 Or 2. Treat holes (q = +e) with mh > 0
Consider again theKrönig-Penney ModelIn the Linear Approximation for L(ε/Vo). The lowest 2 bands are: Negative me Positive me
The linear approximation for L(ε/Vo) does not give accurate effective masses at the BZ edge, k = (π/a). For k near this value, we must use the exact L(ε/Vo) expression. • It can be shown (S, Ch. 2) that, in limit of small barriers (|Vo| << ε), the exact expression for the Krönig-Penney effective mass at the BZ edge is: m = moεG[2(ħ2π 2)/(moa2) εG]-1 with:mo = free electron mass, εG = band gap at the BZ edge. + “conduction band”(positive curvature) like: - “valence band”(negative curvature) like:
For Real Materials, 3d Bands The Krönig-Penney model results (near the BZ edge): m = moεG[2(ħ2π 2)/(moa2) εG]-1 This is obviously too simple for real bands! • A careful study of this table, finds, for real materials, m εG also!NOTE:In general(m/mo) << 1