What Determines the Fermi Energy in Solids?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the concept of Fermi energy in solids, exploring its definition and the principles that govern its determination. The scope includes theoretical aspects and conceptual clarifications related to solid-state physics.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the definition of Fermi energy.
  • Another participant suggests utilizing online resources for a broader overview before engaging in the forum.
  • A third participant explains that due to Pauli's exclusion principle, electrons occupy different energy levels, leading to the existence of a highest occupied energy state known as the Fermi energy.
  • A later reply expresses appreciation for the explanation provided.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus, as the discussion includes a mix of inquiries, suggestions for resources, and explanations without a definitive conclusion on the topic.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not address specific assumptions or limitations regarding the definition or implications of Fermi energy.

Nayan112
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what is fermi energy?
 
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There are plenty of online resources that will give you a broad overview of this topic. If you have not used one of them, please do so before coming to PF. If you have already done so, then please feel free to post specific questions.
 
Due to Pauli's exclusion principle, it is not possible for all the electrons in a substance to be in their lowest energy level. Instead they each occupy a different energy level in the substance. So even if the temperature is very low some of the electrons will have fairly high energy that they cannot lose because all the states with lower energy are occupied. There is one state out of all the occupied states that has energy higher than all the other ones (even at low temperatures). The energy of that highest occupied energy state is called the Fermi energy
 
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Likes   Reactions: Vrbic
Thanks... a lot.Nice ans.
 

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