Electrons and Energy Band Structures in Crystals

In Chapter 3, we introduced quantum mechanics as the proper alternative to classical mechanics to describe physical phenomena, especially when the dimensions of the systems considered approach the atomic scale. The concepts we learned will now be applied to describe the physical properties of electrons in a crystal. During this process, we will make use of the simple quantum mechanical systems which were mathematically treated in the previous Chapter. This will lead us to the description of a very important concept in solid state physics namely that of the ‘energy band structures’.