2.II.33D

Applications of Quantum Mechanics
Part II, 2006

State and prove Bloch's theorem for the electron wave functions for a periodic potential V(r)=V(r+l)V(\mathbf{r})=V(\mathbf{r}+\mathbf{l}) where l=iniai\mathbf{l}=\sum_{i} n_{i} \mathbf{a}_{i} is a lattice vector.

What is the reciprocal lattice? Explain why the Bloch wave-vector k\mathbf{k} is arbitrary up to kk+g\mathbf{k} \rightarrow \mathbf{k}+\mathbf{g}, where g\mathbf{g} is a reciprocal lattice vector.

Describe in outline why one can expect energy bands En(k)=En(k+g)E_{n}(\mathbf{k})=E_{n}(\mathbf{k}+\mathbf{g}). Explain how k\mathbf{k} may be restricted to a Brillouin zone BB and show that the number of states in volume d3kd^{3} k is

2(2π)3 d3k\frac{2}{(2 \pi)^{3}} \mathrm{~d}^{3} k

Assuming that the velocity of an electron in the energy band with Bloch wave-vector k\mathbf{k} is

v(k)=1kEn(k)\mathbf{v}(\mathbf{k})=\frac{1}{\hbar} \frac{\partial}{\partial \mathbf{k}} E_{n}(\mathbf{k})

show that the contribution to the electric current from a full energy band is zero. Given that n(k)=1n(\mathbf{k})=1 for each occupied energy level, show that the contribution to the current density is then

j=e2(2π)3B d3kn(k)v(k)\mathbf{j}=-e \frac{2}{(2 \pi)^{3}} \int_{B} \mathrm{~d}^{3} k n(\mathbf{k}) \mathbf{v}(\mathbf{k})

where e-e is the electron charge.