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Kronig-Penny Model

The Kronig-Penny model examines the behavior of electrons in a periodic potential using a one-dimensional approximation. The potential is modeled as an alternating series of square wells of width a and b with barrier height V0. By applying the Schrodinger equation and Bloch's theorem for periodic potentials, the energy bands of allowed and forbidden energies for electrons can be determined. The model shows that the width of allowed energy bands increases with increasing barrier strength or electron energy. It demonstrates the transition from insulator to conductor behavior depending on whether the electron is tightly or loosely bound by the potential. The energy-wavevector diagram derived from the model exhibits the Brillouin zone structure that is characteristic of electron energies in periodic potentials

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288 views12 pages

Kronig-Penny Model

The Kronig-Penny model examines the behavior of electrons in a periodic potential using a one-dimensional approximation. The potential is modeled as an alternating series of square wells of width a and b with barrier height V0. By applying the Schrodinger equation and Bloch's theorem for periodic potentials, the energy bands of allowed and forbidden energies for electrons can be determined. The model shows that the width of allowed energy bands increases with increasing barrier strength or electron energy. It demonstrates the transition from insulator to conductor behavior depending on whether the electron is tightly or loosely bound by the potential. The energy-wavevector diagram derived from the model exhibits the Brillouin zone structure that is characteristic of electron energies in periodic potentials

Uploaded by

Arighna Basak
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Kronig-Penny Model

.
The Kronig – Penny Model
Kronig and Penney examined the behavior of electrons in a periodic
potential by considering a relatively simple and one-dimensional model. It
is assumed that the potential energy of an electron has the shape of a
square well as shown in fig. The period of potential is (a+b)

This type of periodic potential is an approximation of the actual picture.


Contd..
Now Schrodinger wave eq. for the two regions can be written as,

...(1)
And

...(2)

It is assumed that E the energy of an electron is smaller than

Let And ...(3)

Where and are two real quantities.


So eq. (1) and (2) become

...(4)

...(5)

Since the potential is periodic, so the solution of eq. (4) and (5) must be
of the form of Bloch functions i.e.

…(6)

Where is the periodic function x with period (a+b)


And

Or

...(7)

Putting eq. (6) and (7) in eq. (4) and (5), we get

...(8)

...(9)

Where represents the value of in the interval and


represents the value of in the interval
The solutions of these equations are

...(10)

...(11)

Where A, B, C and D are arbitrary constants which can be determined


by following boundary conditions.

...(12a)

...(12b)

...(12c)

...(12d)
Applying these boundary conditions to eqns. (10) and (11), we get

...(13a)

...(13b)

...(13c)

...(13d)

These eqns can be solved for non-zero value of A, B, C and D only if the
determinant of the coefficient of A, B, C and D becomes zero.
On solving, we get

...(14)

In order to make the situation more simple, Kronig and Penney


considered the height of the potential barrier is very large. i.e and
simultaneously the width of the barrier in such a way that the
product remain finite.

Under these circumstances, eq. (14) becomes

This eq. can be written more simply as

...(15)

Where ...(16)

Which is a measure of the area of the potential barrier. Large value of


P means that given electron is more strongly bound to a particular
potential well.

Now R.H.S of eq. (1.72) can assume values between +1 and -1 and hence
only those value of are allowed which make L.H.S of this eq. lie between
+1.
Fig shows left hand side of this equation as a function of for values
. Since is proportional to energy E, hence abscissa gives a
measure of energy.

The conclusions exclude from the above figure are given below.

1. The energy spectrum of the electrons consists of energy bands


allowed and forbidden.

2. The width of the allowed energy region or band increases with


increasing values of or energy.

3. In case , the allowed region becomes infinitely narrow.

Since as

i.e if with

and from Eq. (3), we obtain

for
This is the result we obtain for a particle in a box of atomic dimensions
with a constant potential i.e. electron tightly bound and tunneling through
the barriers becomes improbable. This shows the case of an insulator.

In case when , we obtain

Hence

This represents the energy of a completely free electron for which any
energy value is possible. This shows the case of the conductor.

4. E-K diagram

Right-hand side of of eq. (15) is an even periodic function and its


value does not change whether Ka is positive or negative. As a result,
the total energy E of the electron is an even periodic function of K with a
period . This periodic repetition of energy is shown in fig. A. This

may be considered as obtained by the repetition of the region


, this is the first Brillouin zone. This representation is known as the
periodic zone scheme.
However, there are two other schemes, the reduced zone scheme, and
the extended zone scheme. These are shown in figures below-

We find that discontinuities occur at

, where n=1,2,3…..
These K value define the boundaries of the first, second and third
Brillouin zones. If we consider a line representing K values, divided into

energy discontinuities into segments of length as shown in Fig. , these


line segments are called Brillouin zones.

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