Thomas Ihn

Semiconductor Nanostructures
Fall 2017

Exercise 3 released: 04.10.2016

Topics: density of states, effective mass discussed: 11.10.2016

Problem 1: Density of states

The density of states D(E) is defined as

dN (E)
D(E) =
dE

where N (E) is the total number of states per volume below energy E.

1. Calculate the density of states in three-, two-, one- and zero-dimensional isotropic
systems, where the conduction band has a parabolic dispersion relation:

h̄2 k 2
E(k) =
2m?

hint: Consider that each state can be occupied by a spin-up and a spin-down
electron.

2. Graphene has a linear energy dispersion around the K-point

E(k) = ±h̄c? |k|

where c? is a constant called Fermi velocity. The conduction band corresponds to

"+" and the valence band to "-". Calculate the density of states for the valence-
and conduction bands of graphene and compare them to the the density of states
for a two-dimensional crystal with a parabolic dispersion relation. What is the
density of states at zero energy?
hint: Graphene has an additional valley-degeneracy of 2 (K, K’).

Problem 2: Effective mass

Given the band gaps of GaAs (1.5 eV) InAs (0.36 eV) and InP (1.27 eV) estimate the
relative effective masses m? /m of conduction band electrons.