October 2009
Intermediate to advanced
503 pages
14h 28m
English
Sommerfeld (1928) applied the principles of quantum mechanics to classical free electron theory.
According to classical theory, the free electrons in a metal have random motions with equal probability in all directions. But according to quantum theory, the free electrons occupy different energy levels, up to Fermi level at 0 K. So, they possess different energies and hence they possess different velocities. The different velocities of these free electrons of a metal can be seen in velocity space. At 0 K, the electrons present in Fermi level possess maximum velocity, represented as VF . We assume a sphere of radius VF , at the origin of velocity space as shown in Fig. 5.5a. Each point inside ...
Read now
Unlock full access