How does the free electron model's density of states compare to experiment?

[Cheetox]

Hi,
In a lot of places it states that one of the great successes of the free electron model is that it gives, more or less, the metallic density of states, I understand that if you do the maths for a fermi gas you end up with a density of states = 3N/2E_f, but to what value do we compare this answer to say that the free electron model has been a success?
cheers

 

[ZapperZ]

Hi,
In a lot of places it states that one of the great successes of the free electron model is that it gives, more or less, the metallic density of states, I understand that if you do the maths for a fermi gas you end up with a density of states = 3N/2E_f, but to what value do we compare this answer to say that the free electron model has been a success?
cheers

Your question here is a bit confusing. Are you asking about the free electron model in general, or the validity of the free electron density of states in particular? The free electron model is roughly the starting basis of the Drude model, and that produces a whole slew of properties, such as Ohm's law, that have been used successfully.

Zz.

 

[Cheetox]

yeah I'm asking more about the validity of the free electron density of states model,
cheers