# Homework Help: Kittel question

1. Feb 21, 2008

### ehrenfest

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Please stop reading unless you have Kittel's Solid-state physics book. I have the 8th edition.

I am working on problem 6.6 "Frequency dependence of the electrical conductivity". Could someone just give me a total rewording of what is going on in this question? For example, what is $\omega$ and and why doesn't the $\omega$ dependence of $\sigma$ show up in equation (43)?

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Feb 22, 2008

### malawi_glenn

$\omega = 1/\tau$ I guess. Tau is the mean time between collisions, right?

eq 43 is just sigma(0)

Look how $\omega$ is defined in problem 7 on same page.

Eq 43 was derived under steady state, i.e infinite time, and the steady state is is given by eq 41.

3. Feb 23, 2008

### ehrenfest

In problem 7, they say that omega is the frequency. But what exactly is it the frequency of?
Also, in the paragraph above (42), the first two sentences say:

The first sentence makes absolutely no sense to time. It would make more sense if you changed "may" to "may not". The second sentence makes some sense...but their use of he word steady state is confusing. Can you define that for me? Can you translate what they are saying?

Last edited: Feb 24, 2008
4. Feb 23, 2008

### malawi_glenn

as I said, the frequency omega is 1/tau (according to my book!!)

so it is the frequence beteen "collisions", number of collisions per unit time.

So now you can solve problem 6 right?

Because of collisions of electrons with impurities, lattice imperfections, and phonons, the displaced sphere may be maintained in a steady in an electric field.

I dont know what would make most sence, the most important thing is that you understand the second one, and whats happening in fig 10. "The instrinsic" motion of electrons are random and the modulus of their k is large. When you supply a small force (electric field), you get a small net displacement of the fermisphere in k-space. The electrons still moves randomly, but EACH has get a small delta(k) in the same direction as all the other electrons.

I think that the first sencence means that it is not guranteed that the fermisphere will evolve, since many things can happen with the electrons. That you will see in the chapters about semiconductors and band theory of solids etc.

5. Feb 24, 2008

### ehrenfest

It really does not make sense that omega is 1/tau because then there is no reason why they would have a tau*omega in the expression below. I actually found a solution online that says it is the frequency of the electric field. What I am trying to figure out is how they arrived at that conclusion!

EDIT: I am starting to understand now--see the section on Motion in Magnetic Fields; do you think this is the cyclotron frequency?

BTW, Kittel's derivation of equation (42) makes absolutely 0 sense. He skips about ten steps in that derivation. See here for a real derivation: http://www.tf.uni-kiel.de/matwis/amat/elmat_en/kap_1/backbone/r1_3_3.html; tau is actually 1/2 of the time between collisions; thus it is the time required to reach the drift velocity after a collision; Kittel fails to explain any of that or even define tau correctly; that is why I hate him

BTW: the equation used in this problem comes from equations (50) and (51)

Last edited: Feb 24, 2008
6. Feb 24, 2008

### malawi_glenn

OK.

Well that can explain why there is an imaginary unit there aswell..

are these problems in your course curriculum? Have you asked your teacher? You said that he aint helping you. Or is it that you dont understand his explanations?

If your teacher's not helping you at all, maybe you should talk to the principal or similar..

No I dont think it's the cyclotron frq, then there would be a c as subsctript.

7. Feb 24, 2008

### ehrenfest

His "explanations" are simply recitations of what is in the book. He would have no idea how to do this problem (without the solution manual). But I will ask the TA on monday. Thanks for your help.

8. Feb 24, 2008

### malawi_glenn

LOL good teacher :)

We did no exercise from Kittel in my solid course, just so you know, I was just brainstorming how to solve that problem.

Good luck!