Free

Intermediate
electron Tight
case binding
fig. 6.46 Energy level structure for differentiating
degreesof binding

(6.192) is appropriate to completely free

Equation particles. Hence no energy
to the electrons. levels exist; all
are allowed
energies
by varying P from zero to infinity we cover the whole range,
Thus from the completelyfree
the completely bound electron.
to
electron

moving in a periodic potential lattice can have energy values only between allowedregions
Theelectron
With the help of equation (6.109), it is possible to plot the total energy E of the electronversus
or
or
number, the propagation vector 'K', and the plot is shown in Fig. 6.47.
thewave
equation (6.190) becomes ± 1 for values of K = nTC/a, and hencethe
Theright hand side of the
in the E versus K graph occur at K = nTt/a, where n takes the values of ± l, ± 2, ± 3, ... etc
discontinuities
 {304 SOLID STATE
PHYSICS

The dotted curve

shows the free electron parabola = . From the graph we see that the electronhas
87t m
allowed energy values
—
in the region or zero extending from K— to +—. The zone is called the
first Brillouin zone. After
a break in the energy values called the forbidden region or band or zonewe
get another allowed zone of energy values in the region extending from K —— — to — -—-
27t
and+

27t
to + . This zone is called the second Brillouin zone. Similarly the other higher order Brillouin zones

can be defined.

Allowed
bands

Allowed
bands

—37t —27t —7t 27t 37t

Fig. 6.47 The relation betweenenergyand wave number of a one-dimensional lattice

Thus we see that the various Brillouin zones are demarcated by the values of the propagation
vector 'K'. Since 'K' is a vector, and has different values along different directions, it is pertinentto ask
the question as to how the limiting values of K in different directions can be determinedand on what
factors the value of K depends. In as much as the zone picture of the crystal is found to be fruitfulin the
understandingof the electron propagation in periodic structures, it is necessary to study aboutthe
demarcationof the Brillouin zone boundaries and the part played by the propagation vector 'F.
The main point we have to note is that in a constant potential lattice, the electron energyvalues
are quasicontinuous,whereas, in aperiodic potential lattice the electron energy values are discontinu0US'
separatedinto allowed and forbidden zones or bands occurring alternatively as in Fig. 6.47.Wealso
notice that the width of the forbidden band increases. Again we find that as P decreases the discontinUOUS
E-K graph will reduce to a continuous parabolic
graph as shown by the dotted lines, and the forbidden
bands disappear. This means that the energy
values become practically continuous, when the perturbations
of the potential due to the periodicity of the
lattice vanish, making electrons really free.
 ELECTRICALPROPERTIESOF METALS
305
I st zone

—37t — 2Tt 37t

2nd zone
Fig. 6.48 The first two Brillouin zones for one-dimensionalcase

Zones in Two Dimensions

Brillouin motion of an electron in the field of two-dimensional square lattice. The motion
consider the
Letus
1
electron in two
\ofthe of propagation of the wave. The wave number K can be analysed into
,measured in the direction
which are respectively, K and K .
components along the x and y axes,

sketch the first Brillouin zone, we note that along the Kx axis in Fig. 6.49, the values of ± —
To

zone. Similarly, along the K axis the values of ± — also represent the limits
the limits of the
represent
the condition for any energy discontinuity is
ofthezone.In general,

Soin two dimensions the condition reads

2 —(711
2 + n; )

where,and112are integers corresponding to the single integer n and referring to each of the axes. To
thefirstzone, and are made equal in turn to ± l, or 0. The equations of the lines bordering
sketch
thefirstzone are therefore

= ± 1, = 0, giving Kx = ±

and
ni = 0, n = ± l, giving K = ±

Thusa squarepassing through the points

A, B, C and D gives the first Brillouin zone.
ThesecondBrillouinzone
should obviously pass through the points E, F, G and H. The complete
picture
Ofthesecondzone is
used obtained by taking and as the next integers in the series above those
forthe firstzone.These
Second
Zone are
are = ± I and n = ± l. The equations giving the boundariesof the Lu
$306 SOLID STAÄt PHYstc:s

2Jt I st zone
2nd zone
3rd zone

— 2Tt

Fig. 6.49 The first three Briilouin zones for a two-dimensional square lattice

2TC
= +1, giving Kx + K =

= —1, = +1, giving —Kx+K = —-

211

n —1, giving K -K =

211
112= —l, giving —Kx —K =

The above four equations describe a set of four lines at 45 0 to the K and K axes passingthrough
E, F, G and H. The second Brillouin zone is thus the region between the squares ABCD and EFGH.The
third Brillouin zone is obtained giving n) and 112values of 0, ± 1 and ± 2.

Bri!iouin Zones in %ree Dimensions

The equation used to describe the zones in three dimensions is given by

The first zone for a simple cubic lattice is clearly a cube intersecting the K . K and Kt axesat the
points TC/a.Just as in the triangular form of the second zone in two dimensions, the second zone in three
dimensions is obtained by adding a pyraJnid to each face to Chefirst zone cube.