Thomas-Fermi Screening Approximation

[calvinjhfeng]

I got quite confused with the math in Thomas-Fermi's approximation.
I thought it was supposed to approximate a length but the math from a textbook gives energy instead.
I don't understand what is it trying to approximate.

My professor told me that normal conductors screen electric field at a very short distance ≈1 Angstrom. He said that is the Thomas-Fermi approximated length.

How to derive that length?

 

[DrDu]

I thought it was supposed to approximate a length but the math from a textbook gives energy instead.

And what do you suppose us to do now? Trying to guess what might actually be written in your unspecified textbook?

 

[calvinjhfeng]

And what do you suppose us to do now? Trying to guess what might actually be written in your unspecified textbook?

I supposed a brief explanation of Thomas-Fermi method on approximating this screening length so i at least have an idea of what is going on.
However, I agree that I should have been more specific with the questions. Please allow me to go to library again and pull out the book again.
Also thank you for trying to help.

 

[mzh]

deleted

 

[mzh]

I supposed a brief explanation of Thomas-Fermi method on approximating this screening length so i at least have an idea of what is going on.
However, I agree that I should have been more specific with the questions. Please allow me to go to library again and pull out the book again.
Also thank you for trying to help.

which book did you consider in the end?