# Tagged Questions

The electronic-band-theory tag has no wiki summary.

2answers
658 views

### Modern and complete references for the $k\cdot p$ method?

I've recently started studying the $k\cdot p$ method for describing electronic bandstructures near the centre of the Brillouin zone and I've been finding it hard to find any pedagogical references on ...
1answer
168 views

### What is the simplest possible topological Bloch function?

Kohmoto (1985) pointed out in Topological Invariant and the Quantization of the Hall Conductance how TKNN's calcuation of Hall conducance is related to topology, in which topologically nontriviality ...
2answers
157 views

### A question on the existence of Dirac points in graphene?

As we know, there are two distinct Dirac points for the free electrons in graphene. Which means that the energy spectrum of the 2$\times$2 Hermitian matrix $H(k_x,k_y)$ has two degenerate points $K$ ...
4answers
5k views

### What's the difference between Fermi Energy and Fermi Level?

I'm a bit confused about the difference between these two concepts. According to Wikipedia the Fermi energy and Fermi level are closely related concepts. From my understanding, the Fermi energy is the ...
1answer
221 views

### Counterexamples to the bulk-boundary correspondence (topological insulators)

In the literature on topological insulators and superconductors the 'bulk-boundary correspondence' features quite heavily. One version of this conjecture says roughly: "At an interface between two ...
1answer
322 views

### Can surface dipoles/charges change the work function of a metal?

As typically drawn in simplified band diagrams (see picture below), the metal Fermi Level is shown as the top of the conduction band, with the entire band filled. In many situations, including ...
0answers
99 views

### Intuition on topologically nontrivial 2D-band structures?

I want to get more intuition on topologically nontrivial band structures. There's this popular 2D two-band model for a topological insulator where $H=\sum_{k}h(\boldsymbol{k})$ (see Qi, Hughes, and ...
2answers
350 views

### How does Bloch's theorem generalize to a finite sized crystal?

I would be fine with a one dimensional lattice for the purpose of answering this question. I am trying to figure out what more general theorem (if any) gives Bloch's theorem as the number of unit ...
1answer
36 views

### Dopant concentration and changes in band gap energy

Thanks to this lovely website, I was able to pop out reasonable values for my band gap energies from a translucent material. As expected, I found a decrease in band gap energy due to my treatments. ...
1answer
268 views

### Transparency of solids using bandgaps and relation to conduction and valence bands

I think I understand how a solid can appear transparent as long as the energy of the photons travelling through it are not absorbed in the material's bandgap. But how does this band gap relate to ...
1answer
129 views

### Confused about charge seperation in solar cells

I'm a bit confused about how solar cells work. My understanding is that there is a p-n junction. A photon is absorbed which creates an electron-hole pair, and the idea is to separate the electron ...
2answers
164 views

### Bloch oscillations - Scattering to other bands

In the free electron approximation, a Bloch state $|k\rangle$ is the linear superposition of free plane wave states $\sum_G C_G(k) |k+G\rangle$, where $G$ are the conjugate lattice. Since the ...
1answer
327 views

### What does the Fermi Energy really signify in a Semiconductor?

In understanding the behavior of semiconductors, I'm coming across a description of the Fermi Energy here and at Wikipedia's page (Fermi Energy, Fermi Level). If I understand correctly, the Fermi ...
1answer
326 views

### Energy band diagram of a system of Silicon Quantum dots

Suppose that we have a system of Silicon nanoparticles embedded in ZnO dielectric matrix. i'm thinking about how to construct the energy band structure of this system , suppose that we already have ...
0answers
75 views

### Topological band theory [closed]

Why topological insulators were discovered so late? While the band theory was known long time ago! I mean why the topological properties of electronic bands were not noticed in the past?
1answer
64 views

### Are electronic wavefunctions in band gap insulators localized? is a single-particle picture sufficient in this case?

I am having trouble understanding the physics of band gap insulators. Usually in undergrad solid state physics one looks at non-interacting electrons in a periodic potential, with no disorder. Then, ...
0answers
44 views

### Why does silicon have an indirect gap?

Is there an intuitive explanation as to why silicon has an indirect gap? I have heard that this can explained using pseudopotentials.
1answer
109 views

### Semiconductors and localization of the electrons

When looking at the band diagram of a semi-conductor, direct conclusion of the invariance under discrete translations, for a filled state with an electron, one does know precisely it's momentum, so my ...
1answer
453 views

### Effective Mass and Fermi Velocity of Electrons in Graphene:

In graphene, we have (in the low energy limit) the linear energy-momentum dispersion relation: $E=\hbar v_{\rm{F}}|k|$. This expression arises from a tight-binding model, in fact \$E =\frac{3\hbar ...
1answer
126 views

### Band Structure and Carrier Recombination/Generation

So i've been a bit confused, looking at PN junction, semiconductors and the like (trying to nail down how exactly semiconductors work, transistors and such). I've read the wiki on band structure ...
1answer
48 views

### What is the reasoning behind hole carriers being able to carry heat?

In the Peltier effect, we consider charge carriers being able to carry heat. As for electrons or ions, this attitude makes sense, since external electric potential drives particles with mass in a ...
1answer
55 views

### DFT for bandstructure

Density Functional Theory (DFT) is not appropriate in predicting the band gap of the materials. However, which functional gives close value to the experimentally observed band gap of semiconductors? ...
1answer
330 views

### PN Junction Depletion Region

So it took me a little bit to understand this, but I want to make sure I have a few things right. First of all, when a Crystal Structure with One side N-Doped, One Side P-Doped are in the same ...
2answers
424 views

### Band Gap/Energy Bands in Semiconductors?

I think i've finally nailed down the Semiconductor Physics (Well the general part, whats and why's etc, as per my previous question) Anyways there is one small part that confuses me, and thats BAND ...
1answer
41 views

### Regarding “Holes” in bands, and Photons

So from learning Band theory, and PN Junction and such, I've learned that photons are created when "holes" are filled in a band, and this is what can create light (Isn't this how LEDs work?) Anyways, ...
1answer
99 views

### Does anyone know the difference and relation between $k\cdot p$ method and tight binding (TB) method?

Among the methods of calculating energy bands for crystals, first-principles method is the most accurate. Besides first principles, two commonly used modeling methods are the $k\cdot p$ method and ...
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