Undergrad The Mystery of the Fermi Surface & Semiconductors

Click For Summary
A semiconductor does not have a traditional Fermi surface because it lacks a continuous band of occupied states at absolute zero. Instead, the Fermi level in semiconductors is located within the band gap, between the valence and conduction bands. While there are highest occupied energy states in the valence band, they do not form a distinct surface in k-space as seen in metals. This distinction is important for understanding the electronic properties of semiconductors. The concept of the Fermi level is crucial for analyzing band structure and electronic behavior in these materials.
aaaa202
Messages
1,144
Reaction score
2
My teacher told me the other day that a semiconductor does not have a fermi surface. I didn't understand this remark. As I understand it the Fermi Surface is just the surface in k-space spanned by the highest occupied energy levels. Surely in a semiconductor you will also have some highest occupied energy states sitting in the top of the valence band?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Thread 'Unexpected irregular reflection signal from a high-finesse cavity'

Thread 'Unexpected irregular reflection signal from a high-finesse cavity'

I am observing an irregular, aperiodic noise pattern in the reflection signal of a high-finesse optical cavity (finesse ≈ 20,000). The cavity is normally operated using a standard Pound–Drever–Hall (PDH) locking configuration, where an EOM provides phase modulation. The signals shown in the attached figures were recorded with the modulation turned off. Under these conditions, when scanning the laser frequency across a cavity resonance, I expected to observe a simple reflection dip. Instead...
View full post »

Similar threads

What is the Fermi level in semiconductors?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
6K
Undergrad Density of states at Fermi level for metal vs semiconductor
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
5K
Graduate Thermal Properties of the Free Electron Gas: Fermi-Dirac Distribution
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
What Determines the Fermi Level of Semiconductors?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Undergrad Quasi Fermi level and intrinsic Fermi energy
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Undergrad Does ARPES Only Show Fermi Surface of a Structure?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Fermi level in n-type or p-type semiconductors
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
14K
Fermi Energy and Fermi Level in Semiconductors
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
81K
Undergrad Fermi level change in semiconductors
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Semiconductor and fermi energy
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K