Chapter 5

The Free Electron Fermi Gas (5 hrs)

5.1. Energy levels in one dimension

 The electronic state in a 1D solid is characterized by two quantum numbers that are n
and ms, where n describes the orbital ψn(x), and ms describes the projection of the
spin momentum on a quantization axis.
 Electron spin is equal to S=1/2, so that there n(2S+1)=2 possible spin states with ms
= ±½.
 Therefore, each orbital labeled by the quantum number n can accommodate two
electrons, one with spin up and one with spin down orientation.
 Let nF denote the highest filled energy level, where we start filling the levels from the
bottom (n = 1) and continue filling higher levels with electrons until all N electrons
are accommodated.
 The condition 2nF = N determines nF, the value of n for the uppermost filled level. The
energy of the highest occupied level is called the Fermi energy E F. For the one
dimensional system of N electrons we find, using Eq. (4.3),
E ℏ 2 Nπ 2
F=¿ ( )¿
2m 2 L

4.4
 In metals the value of the Fermi energy is of the order of 5 eV.
In 1D case, we have derived its discrete wave vector kn
nπ
kn = : there is one quantum state within the momentum interval π/L.
L
The number of quantum states dN in the momentum interval dk is
dk
dN = L
π = dk
π
L
for spin degeneracy, the number of states within the interval dk in 1-D,
2dk
dN = L
π =2 dk
π
L
For one dimensional quantum wires, we have
 2 2
ℏ k
E ( k )=
2m
4.5

dk =
√ m
2 E ℏ2
Therefore, the density of states per unit length in 1D

dN =
2L
π
dk=
2L
√m
π 2 E ℏ2
dE

DOS= =
√
dN L 2 m 1
dE π ℏ 2 √ E
 For one dimension, the density of states per unit volume at energy E is given by

DOS= =
√
dN L 2 m 1
dE π ℏ 2 √ E
The first energy level, the density of states function becomes

 DOS=
√
L 2m
∑ n ¿¿
π ℏ 2 i iH ¿¿

5.2. Effect of temperature on the Fermi-Dirac distribution

 Electrons are Fermions. Two electrons can occupy a state, one with spin up and
one with spin down.
 Fermi function f(E) is is the probability that a state at energy E is occupied.
Electrons obey the Fermi-Dirac distribution.

Fermi-Dirac distribution at T=0 Kelvin

 That is, all levels below EF are completely filled, and empty.
Fermi-Dirac distribution at T>0 Kelvin
 What happens if the temperature is increased?
 The kinetic energy of the electron gas increases with temperature.
  The distribution of electrons among the levels is usually described by the distribution
function, f(E), which is defined as the probability that the level E is occupied by an
electron.
 Thus if the level is certainly empty, then, f(E) = 0, while if it is certainly full, then
f(E) = 1. In general, f(E) has a value between zero and unity.

5.3. Free electron gas in three dimensions

 The Schrödinger equation in the three dimensions takes the form.

Ηψ ℏ2 ∂2 ∂2 ∂2
n=−¿ ( + + )ψ ¿
2 m ∂ x2 ∂ y 2 ∂ y 2 n( x, y ,z )=E ψ ( x, y ,z )
n n

 If the electrons are confined to a cube of edge L, the solution is the standing wave

Ηψ
n ( X , y , z )=− Asin(
nπ
L
x)− Asin
nπ
L( )
y − Asin
nπ
L
z ( )
we require then that our wavefunction is periodic in x, y, and z directions with period L,
so that
ψ ( x+ L , y , z )=ψ ( x , y , z )

ψ ( Z + L , x , y )=ψ (x , y , z)
The solution of the Schrödinger equation which satisfies these boundary conditions has
the form of the traveling plane wav
ψ → → →
k (r )= Aexp (i k . r )

provided that the component of the wavevector k are determined from

nπ nπ
kx = , k y= , k nπ , where nx, ny, and nz are positive or negative integers.
L L z=¿ L ¿
Dispersion relations in 3D: If we now substitute this solution to Eq.(4.5) we obtain for the
energies of the orbital with the wave vector k
E ℏ2 2 2 ℏ2
k= ( k + k y + k 2z )= 2 m k 2 ,
2m x

The dispertion relation is E k= ℏ 2

2 2 2
k , where k =k x +k y +k
2 2
z
2m
Density of states in 3D : To finding the number of these allowed states between spheres of
radius k and k +d k . In 3-dimensions, the volume between the two shells is given by:
d K =dk x d k y d k z
As discreete K values for 3D:
−4 π −2 π 2π 4 π
k x , k y , kz = , ,0 , , , … … ..
L L L L
2 πn x 2 πn y 2 πn z
k x= , k y= , k z=
L L L
There is one quantum state within the momentum interval (2π/L)3 .
The number of quantum states dN in the momentum interval dk is
dK

( ) ( ) ( )
3 3
3 L L 2
dN = 2 π = d K= 4 πk d K
2π 2π
L

ψ ( y+ L, x , z )=ψ ( x , y , z )

3
L 2
N=2 x ( ) 4 πk d K ,
2π

√
2 2
ℏ k m
For 3D quantum case:( k )= anddk= dE
2m 2 E ℏ2

( ) ( )
3 1/ 2 3 1/ 2
L 2m 1 /2 dN L 2m 1 /2
dN=4 π ( 2 ) E ∧DOS= =4 ( 2) E
2π ℏ dE 2π ℏ
Fermi energy in 3D case: From Equation of DOS

( )
3 1/ 2
L 2m 1 /2
dN=4 π ( 2 ) E dE
2π ℏ

∞ Ef

N=∫ dN=∫ 4 π
o
2π ℏ ( )
L 3 2 m 1/ 2 1/ 2 L3 2 m 1/ 2
2π ℏ 0
L3 2 m 1 /2
( 2 ) E dE=¿ 2 ( 2 ) ∫ E 1/ 2 dE= 2 ( 2 ) E F 1/ 2 ¿
2π ℏ
2 1/ 2 2
ℏ 2 N ℏ
E F= (3 π 3 ) = ¿ ¿ , where n is ere n is the electron density
2m L 2m

2 2
ℏ k 2 2/ 3
E= leads ¿ the fermi wave vector , K F =(3 n π )
2m
 the linear momentum of an electron is ; P=mv =ℏK ,
  We can derive the Fermi velocity for an electron as
V ℏ KF ℏ 2
2/3
F= = (3 n π )
m m

5.4. Heat capacity of the electron gas