513.001 Molecular and Solid State Physics

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Wolfram Alpha

Physical
Constants

Periodic System
of Elements

      

Copper

The electronic density of states for copper is shown below. The band structure calculation used to determine this density of states included the 3d and 4s bands.

(a) What is the definition of the Fermi energy and how could it be determined from the density of states?

(b) To determine the Fermi energy, you must know the electron density. The size of the conventional unit cell is 3.61 Å making the volume of the conventional unit cell 4.70 × 10-29 m-3 and the volume of the primitive unit cell 1.18 × 10-29 m-3. What electron density should you use to calculate the Fermi energy?