The free electron gas

Sommerfeld model in 3D
Schrdiger equation for 3D potential V = 0 for 0 x, y , z L with periodic boundary conditions:
h2 2 2 2
2 + 2 + 2 k = Ek k with k ( x + L, y + L, z + L ) = k ( x, y, z )
2m x y z
3 2
1 ik r 2 n 2
is solved by a plane wave ansatz: k = Ak e with ki = 0, ,..., i with nx , n y , nz Z
L L L
Energy eigenvalues:

Ek =
2m
=
2m
(
h 2k 2 h 2 2
k x + k y2 + k z2 )

surfaces of constant energy are spheres with radius k = 2mE h

Occupation of energy levels

System with N electrons is occupied according to the Pauli principle:
at T = 0 all states within the Fermi sphere with radius kF and 0
volume 4/3kF3 are occupied:
h 2 2/L
this defines the Fermi surface with the Fermi energy EF = k F2
2m
and the Fermi wave vector kF

Introduction to solid state physics WS 2005/06

M. Wolf sheet 6.3
 The density of states
3
2
For periodic boundary conditions the volume Vk of each allowed state in k-space is Vk =
L
For N electrons in the Fermi sphere with electron density n=N/V and V = L3
3
4 k F3 2 V 3
N =2
3

L 3
= 2
k F with k F =(3 )
2 13
n

( )
2
h 23
Fermi energy expressed by the electron density: E F = 3 2 n
2m
Density of states
Calculate D(E) = (1/V)dN/dE in energy interval E(k) and E(k)+dE
for a free electron gas in 3D:
3
2
From dN = k dk 2
with dE = (2k/m)dk one obtains for the density of states:
L
32
1 2m
D (E ) = E
2 2 h 2

Introduction to solid state physics WS 2005/06

M. Wolf sheet 6.4