Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution

In summary, the Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution is a probability distribution that describes the distribution of velocities of molecules in a gas at a specific temperature. It differs from the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution by only considering velocities in one direction, making it more suitable for situations where the gas molecules are confined to one direction. The shape of the distribution is affected by temperature, gas molecule mass, and container size. It is commonly used in scientific research for studying thin films, surface physics, gas-surface interactions, plasma physics, and astrophysics. While it cannot be directly applied to non-gaseous systems, modified versions known as Hemi-Maxwellian-like distributions have been used in certain cases.
  • #1
Larrytsai
228
0
Hey guys,

I was just having troubles understanding why as energy increases from the conduction band edge the concentration of electrons rises, and as we increase the energy further the concentration of electrons approaches 0.

Can any of you guys help clear this distribution up for me?

Thanks,

Larry
 
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  • #2
Pretty sure something like;

Going back to basics kE = 1/2mv^2

So energy will increase because of the build up of electrons.

Don't take my word for this though, this is my assumption from basic formulae.

Jock
 

1. What is a Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution?

A Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution is a probability distribution that describes the distribution of velocities of molecules in a gas at a specific temperature. It is a modified version of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, where the velocities are only considered in one direction instead of three.

2. How is the Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution different from the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution?

The main difference between the two distributions is that the Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution only considers velocities in one direction, while the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution considers velocities in all three directions. This makes the Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution more suitable for situations where the gas molecules are confined to one direction, such as in a thin film or near a surface.

3. What factors affect the shape of the Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution?

The shape of the Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution is affected by the temperature of the gas, the mass of the gas molecules, and the size of the container in which the gas is confined. As the temperature increases, the distribution becomes wider and flatter, while a heavier gas molecule and a smaller container both result in a narrower distribution.

4. How is the Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution used in scientific research?

The Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution is commonly used in studies of thin films, surface physics, and gas-surface interactions. It is also used in plasma physics and astrophysics to describe the velocity distribution of particles in these systems.

5. Can the Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution be applied to non-gaseous systems?

The Hemi-Maxwellian Distribution is specifically designed for gas molecules, so it cannot be directly applied to non-gaseous systems. However, some researchers have modified the distribution to describe the velocities of particles in other systems, such as electrons in a metal. These modified distributions are known as Hemi-Maxwellian-like distributions.

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