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Solid State Theory Solid State Theory Physics 545 Physics 545
Solid State Theory Solid State Theory Physics 545 Physics 545
Solid State Theory Solid State Theory Physics 545 Physics 545
Physics 545
Fermi Surfaces
F
Fermi
i surfaces
f and
d Electron
El t
dynamics
¾Band structure calculations give E(k)
¾E(k) determines the dynamics of the electrons
¾It is E(k) at the Fermi Surface that is important
¾Form of Fermi surface is important
¾Fermi surface can be complicated due to
overlapping bands.
bands
Constructing Brillouin Zones
2D Square lattice. BZ constructed from the perpendicular
bisectors of the vectors joining a reciprocal lattice point
t neighbouring
to i hb i lattice
l tti points
i t 2π/a
1st B. Z.
2ndB. Z.
The Fermi Metals have a Fermi energy,
energy EF.
Surface The Fermi Temperature,TF, is the
temperature at which kBTF = EF.
All the free electron states within
a Fermi sphere in k k-space
space are
filled up to a Fermi wavevector,kF.
The surface of this sphere is
called the Fermi surface.
On the Fermi surface the free
electrons have a Fermi velocity vF
= hkF/me.
A Fermi surface still exists when the states are not free
electron states but it need not be a sphere.
Brillouin Zones and Fermi Surfaces
Empty Lattice model (limit of weak
lattice potential):
E E2
States are Bloch states.Independent
states have k-vectors in first BZ. E1
No energy gaps at the BZ boundaries.
ky −π/a 0 kx π/a
[100]
E2
E1 kx = ky
E2
E1
1st B.
B Z.
Z
2st B. Z. −21/2π/a 0 k [110] 21/2π/a
Fermi Contours in reduced Zone
E2
PLUS
1st B.
B Z.
Z
2st B. Z.
E = -α –γ( Cos[kx x] - Cos[ky y]),
2D simple square
Lattice tight binding
model.
Changing Fermi
Contour with
I
Increasing
i Fermi
F i
Energy.
http://dept.physics.upenn.edu/~mele/phys518/anims/Kronig/FermiSurf1.gif
BZs and Fermi Surfaces with gaps
E2
E1
E2
E1
−π/a
/ 0 −π/a
/
kx
1st B.
B Z.
Z Energy gaps make the Fermi contours
appear discontinuous at the BZ boundaries.
2st B. Z.
dE/dk = 0 at BZ boundaries. Fermi contour
perpendicular to BZ boundary.
BZs and Fermi Surfaces with gaps
No gaps With gaps
ky E2
E2
E1 E1
1st B.
B Z.
Z
2st B. Z.
dk e e
Bloch electrons = − v × B = − 2 ∇ k E (k ) × B
dt = =
In both cases the Lorentz force does not change the energy of the
electrons. The electrons move on contours of constant E.
y ky
x kx
Electron and Hole orbits
dk e Filled states are indicated in grey.
= − 2 ∇ k E(k ) × B
dt = dk
dt
dE
dk dE
dk
ky dt dk
ky
Bz
(a) (b)
kx kx
Periodic zone
picture of Fermi
contour ( E1 ) near
bottom of a band.
E1
E Grad E
E1
−π/a
/ 0 kx π/a
/
Hole like
orbits
Periodic zone
picture of the
Fermi contour at
the top of a band
Grad E
E2
E
E2
−π/a
π/a 0 kx π/a
/
Tight binding simple cubic
model:Fermi
d lF i Surfaces
S f
-α – γ(Cos[kx x] - Cos[ky y] - Cos[kz z]
h //h
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~loly/fermiarticle.html
i b / l l /f i i l h l
The Fermi Metals have a Fermi energy,
energy EF.
Surface The Fermi Temperature,TF, is the
temperature at which kBTF = EF.
All the free electron states within
a Fermi sphere in k k-space
space are
filled up to a Fermi wavevector,kF.
The surface of this sphere is
called the Fermi surface.
On the Fermi surface the free
electrons have a Fermi velocity vF
= hkF/me.
A Fermi surface still exists when the states are not free
electron states but it need not be a sphere.
Sodium Copper
http://www.phys.ufl.e
d /f
du/fermisurface/http
i f /h
Strontium
Lead
Palladium
Tungsten
g
Yttrium
Y
Thorium
Rhenium
Re