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Solid State Physics Problem Sheet 2024-25

This document is a problem sheet for the Solid State Physics course at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani - Hyderabad Campus, for the second semester of 2024-25. It includes various problems related to the Fermi-Dirac distribution, Fermi energy calculations, and properties of conduction electrons in metals like Aluminium, Sodium, and Copper. The problems require derivations, calculations, and theoretical explanations regarding electron behavior and statistical mechanics in solid-state physics.

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Pradhyumna Akkapeddi
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5 views2 pages

Solid State Physics Problem Sheet 2024-25

This document is a problem sheet for the Solid State Physics course at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani - Hyderabad Campus, for the second semester of 2024-25. It includes various problems related to the Fermi-Dirac distribution, Fermi energy calculations, and properties of conduction electrons in metals like Aluminium, Sodium, and Copper. The problems require derivations, calculations, and theoretical explanations regarding electron behavior and statistical mechanics in solid-state physics.

Uploaded by

Pradhyumna Akkapeddi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI - HYDERABAD CAMPUS

Second Semester 2024-25

Problem Sheet - II

Course No : PHY F341 Total Marks : 30

Course Title: Solid State Physics Weightage: 10 %

Date: 8/4/2025

Name: ID No:

1. a) Show that P(E), the occupancy probability given by the Fermi-Dirac distribution is
symmetrical about the value of the Fermi energy: that is show that
P(EF+E) +P(EF-E) =1
b) Show that the probability P(E) that an energy level E is not occupied is:
1
P ( E )=
exp(−∆ E
kT
+1)where E = E-EF

2. a) Show that the slope dP/dE of the Fermi-Dirac distribution, P(E), at E = EF is equal
−1
to . Here the chemical potential at the temperature T has been taken to be equal to
4 kT
EF.
b) Show that the tangent line to the Fermi-Dirac distribution at E=EF intercepts the
horizontal (energy) axis at E = EF+2kT

3. The Fermi energy of Aluminium is 11.6 eV; its density and molar mass are 2.70 g/cm 3 and 27.0
g/mol, respectively. From these data, determine the number of conduction electrons per atom.

4. Assume that the total volume of a metal sphere is the sum of the volume occupied by the
metal ions making up the lattice and the (separate) volume occupied by the conduction
electrons. The density and molar mass of Sodium are 971 Kg/m 3 and 23.0 g/mol respectively;
the radius of the Na+ ion is 98 pm.

a) What percent of the volume of a sample of metallic Sodium is occupied by its conduction
electrons?

b) Carry out the same calculation for Copper, which has density, molar mass, and ionic radius of
8960 Kg/m3, 63.5 g/mol, and 135 pm, respectively.

c) For which of these metals do you think the conduction electrons behave more like a free-
electron gas?

5. a) What is the relation between the electron density n and KF in two dimensions?

b) Prove that in two dimensions the free electron density of levels D(E) is a constant
independent of E for E > 0. What is the constant?
c) Using the above, arrive at an expression for the specific heat of a free electron gas in two
dimensions? If the temperature dependence of the specific heat different in two dimensions,
when compared to a three-dimensional electron gas?

6. Derive an expression for the change in entropy for a free electron gas as the temperature is
increased from 0 K to T K. Assume that the volume of the gas does not change as the
temperature is increased.

7. The Fermi Dirac distribution reduces to the Maxwell Boltzmann distribution provided that

exp(-/kT) >> 1 for all positive E. Here  is the chemical potential.

Assuming that this is true, show that

( )
1 1
−μ 3 6 ℏ
r s=exp 3 π
3 KT √ 2mkT
rs is the radius of a sphere whose volume is equal to the volume per conduction electron.

8. What is the relation between kF and rs in two dimensions? rs is the radius of a circle whose
area is equal to the area per conduction electron.

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