fermi level simple explanation

sudar_dhoni

can any1 explain what fermi level is simple explanation
also
how are minority charge carriers formed and i cant understand the energy band diagram of pn junction that how both the fermi levels become equal WHAT IS MEANT BY THAT FERMI LEVEL i read in hyperphysics but i cant understand it .CAN ANY 1 explain what that fermi level is also about the energy band diagram of pn junction

sokrates

http://cnx.org/content/m13458/latest/

seems like a good tutorial for you.

wsttiger

My simple cartoon way of understanding the fermi level is where nature ran out of electrons. Nature keeps filling energy levels (or energy bands in crystals) until it runs out. So, basically states below the fermi level are occupied ... above the fermi level are unoccupied.

In metals it's a bit more complicated due to smearing by the fermi function.