Free electron gas

Reading: A&M Ch2-3, Kittel Ch6

Summary: Gas of N free electrons in a 3d potential - the Sommerfeld and Drude models. Wave functions, energy of multi-particle free electron gas. k-states, counting. Density of states in 3 dimensions. Fermi energy and other Fermi quantities. Orders of magnitude. Electrical conductivity in the Drude/Sommerfeld models.

Next time: Hall effect, specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermopower.

• Good free electron summary.
• Simulations from Cornell University. Drude model shows motion of 8 electrons in crossed E and B fields. Other useful ones are Bloch, Peierls, Ziman