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phyCIAA
Sep25-09, 11:26 AM
Hi guys I have these question, please someone help me to answer?
What is Bloch theorem? Why we use it? Explain?
What is the consequence of this theorem?

kanato
Sep25-09, 01:46 PM
The Bloch theorem allows us to partially diagonalize a periodic Hamiltonian. A periodic Hamiltonian has a discrete translational symmetry, you can translate by any lattice vector and get the same Hamiltonian back. Because of this symmetry, there will be a good quantum number for the wavefunction associated with it, usually called the pseudomomentum and given the letter k. This allows us to take a problem of N atoms in M cells and solve M independent problems with N atoms, rather than to solve the whole crystal of N*M atoms. The consequences of Bloch's theorem are pervasive in solid-state physics, so it is difficult to give a concise summary.

phyCIAA
Sep25-09, 04:16 PM
Thank you for your response.