Assignment-2

1. The work function of a material refers to the minimum energy required to remove an
electron from the material. Assume that the work function of gold is 4.90 eV and that of
Caesium is 1.90 eV. Calculate the maximum wavelength of light for the photoelectric
emission of electrons for gold and caesium.
2. Calculate the de Broglie wavelength, λ = h/p. for:
a. An electron with kinetic energy of (i) 1.0 eV, and (ii) 100 eV.
b. A proton with kinetic energy of 1.0 eV.
c. A singly ionized tungsten atom with kinetic energy of 1.0 eV.
d. A 2000-kg truck traveling at 20 m/s.
3. According to classical physics, the average energy of an electron in an electron gas at
thermal equilibrium is 3kT/2. Determine, for T = 300 K, the average electron energy (in
eV), average electron momentum, and the de Broglie wavelength.
4. An electron and a photon have the same energy. At what value of energy (in eV) will the
wavelength of the photon be 10 times that of the electron?
5. (a) An electron is moving with a velocity of 2xl06 cm/s. Determine the electron energy (in
eV), momentum, and de Broglie wavelength (in A).
(b) The de-Broglie wavelength of an electron is 125 Ao. Determine the electron energy (in eV),
momentum, and velocity.
6. It is desired to produce x-ray radiation with a wavelength of 1 Ao.
a. Through what potential voltage difference must the electron be accelerated in vacuum so
that it can, upon colliding with a target generate such a photon? (Assume that all of the
electron's energy is transferred to the photon)
b. What is the de Broglie wavelength of the electron in part (a) just before it hits the target?
7. When the uncertainty principle is considered, it is not possible to locate a photon in space
more precisely than about one wavelength. Consider a photon with wavelength λ= 1 pm.
What is the uncertainty in the photon's (a) momentum and (b) energy?
8. The uncertainty in position is 12 Ao for a particle of mass 5 x 10-29 kg. Determine the
minimum uncertainty in (a) the momentum of the panicle and (b) the kinetic energy of the
particle.
9. An automobile has a mass of 1500 kg. What is the uncertainty in the velocity when its
centre of mass is located with an uncertainty no greater than 1cm?
10. (a) The uncertainty in the position of an electron is no greater than 1 Ao. Determine the
minimum uncertainty in its momentum.
(b) The electron's energy is measured with an uncertainty no greater than 1 eV. Determine the
minimum uncertainty in the time over which the measurement is made.
11. The forbidden energy band of GaAs is 1.42 eV.
(a) Determine the minimum frequency of an incident photon that can interact with a valence
electron and elevate it to the conduction band.
(b) What is the corresponding wavelength?
12. Determine the total number of energy states in GaAs between Ev and Ev - kT at T = 300
K.
13. (a) If EF = EC, find the probability of a state being occupied at E = EC + kT.
(b) If EF = Ev, find the probability of a state being empty at E = Ev - kT.
14. Determine the probability that an energy level is occupied by an electron if the state is
above the Fermi level by (a) kT, (b) 5kT, and (c) 10kT.
15. Determine the probability that an energy level is empty of an electron if the state is below
the Fermi level by (a) kT, (b) 5kT, and (c) l0kT.
16. The Fermi energy in silicon is 0.25 eV below the conduction band energy EC. (a) Plot using
MATLAB, the probability of a state being occupied by an electron over the range EC ≤ E
≤ EC + 2kT Assume T = 300 K.
17. (a) Determine for what energy above EF (in terms of kT) the Fermi-Dirac probability
function is within 1 percent of the Boltzmann approximation. (b) Give the value of the
probability function at this energy.
18. The Fermi energy level for a particular material at T = 300 K is 6.25 eV. The electrons in
this material follow the Fermi-Dirac distribution function.
(a) Find the probability of an energy level at 6.50 eV being occupied by an electron.
(b) Repeat part (a) if the temperature is increased to T = 950 K. (Assume that EF is a
constant.)
(c) Calculate the temperature at which there is a 1 percent probability that a state 0.30 eV
below the Fermi level will be empty of an electron.
19. The Fermi energy for copper at T = 300 K is 7.0 eV. The electrons in copper follow the
Femi-Dirac distribution function.
(a) Find the probability of an energy level at 7.15 eV being occupied by an electron.
(b) Repeat part (a) for T = 1000 K. (Assume that EF is a constant.)
(c) Repeat part (a) for E = 6.85 eV and T = 300 K.
(d) Determine the probability of the energy state at E = EF being occupied at T = 300 K
and at T = 1000 K.
20. Consider the energy levels shown in above Figure. Let T = 300 K. (a) If El – EF = 0.30 eV,
determine the probability that an energy state at E = E1 is occupied by an electron and the
probability that an energy state at E = E2 is empty. (b) Repeat part (a) if EF – E2 = 0.40 eV.
21. Assume the Fermi energy level is exactly in the centre of the bandgap energy of a
semiconductor at T = 300 K.
(a) Calculate the probability that an energy state in the bottom of the conduction band is
occupied by an electron for Si, Ge. and GaAs.
(b) Calculate the probability that an energy state in the top of the valence band is empty for
Si, Ge, and GaAs.
22. Calculate the temperature at which there is a probability that an energy state 0.55 eV above
the Fermi energy level is occupied by an electron.
23. Calculate the energy range (in eV) between fF (E) = 0.95 and fF (E) = 0.05 for EF = 7.0 eV
and for T = 300 K.