PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

PHY3202 SOLID STATE PHYSICS

Tutorial sheet 3: Electrical and magnetic properties
10 October 2018

e = 1.602 × 10−19 C ≡ 0.1602 aC h = 1.055 × 10−34 J s ≡ 1.055 × 10−10 yJ s

µ0 = 4π × 10−7 H m−1 ≡ 400π nH m−1 µB = 9.274 × 10−24 A m2 ≡ 9.274 yA m2
kB = 1.381 × 10−23 J K−1 ≡ 13.81 yJ K−1 ε0 = 8.854 × 10−12 F m−1 ≡ 8.854 pF m−1
NA = 6.022 × 1023 mol−1 ≡ 0.6022 ymol−1 m = 9.110 × 10−31 kg ≡ 9.110 × 10−4 yg
1. Calculate the thermionic volume current density at T = 300 K for the metals (i) barium Ba
with work function φ = 2.5 eV = 0.40 aJ and Richardson-Dushman constant A = 0.25 × 106
A m−2 K−2 ≡ 0.25 MA m−2 K−2, molybdenum Mo with φ = 4.4 eV =0.705 aJ and A = 1.15 ×
106 A m−2 K−2 ≡ 1.15 MA m−2 K−2and (iii) nickel Ni with φ = 1.80 eV = 0.288 aJ and A =
1.60 × 106 A m−2 K−2 ≡ 1.60 MA m−2 K−2.
Show that a metal with electron number density nel has Fermi energy EF = 2hm (3π 2 nel ) .
2 2/3
2.
3. Find the electronic number density nel and Fermi parameters EF , k F , v F , TF and g (E F )
for following metals: (i) tetravalent lead Pb with atomic number density nat = 33.0 nm−3, (ii)
monovalent gold Au with an fcc structure and lattice constant a = 0.4078 nm, (iii) divalent
barium Ba with a bcc structure and lattice constant a = 0.5029 nm and (iv) trivalent
aluminium with an fcc structure and lattice constant a = 0.4046 nm.
4. Calculate the Pauli χ Pau , Landau χ Lan and total electronic χ el susceptibilities for the metals
(i) lithium Li with bcc structure and lattice constant of 0.3491 nm and (ii) trivalent gallium
Ga with atomic number density nat = 51.0 nm−3 and (iii) magnesium Mg with atomic number
density nat = 43.0 nm−3.
5. The experimental Hall coefficient values for the metals potassium K, silver Ag, beryllium
Be, aluminium or aluminum Al, indium In, antimony Sb and bismuth Bi are respectively
– 4.451 × 10−12 m3 C−1 ≡ – 4.451 × 10−3 mm3 C−1,
– 9.0 × 10−11 m3 C−1 ≡ – 9.0 × 10−3 mm3 C−1,
+ 2.43 × 10−12 m3 C−1 ≡ + 2.43 × 10−3 mm3 C−1,
+ 1.022 × 10−12 m3 C−1 ≡ + 1.022 × 10−3 mm3 C−1,
+ 1.597 × 10−12 m3 C−1 ≡ + 1.597× 10−3 mm3 C−1,
+ 19.8 × 10−12 m3 C−1 ≡ + 1.98 × 10−2 mm3 C−1
and – 5.400 × 10−9 m3 C−1 ≡ – 5.400 mm3 C−1. Use this information to determine the number
density of the electric charge carriers and indicate their type, that is +ve or –ve. Express your
answers in units of 1 nm−3.
6 For diamagnetic and paramagnetic materials, sketch a graph of the magnetic polarization
against the magnetic field, and state the name of the slope of the curves.
7. Briefly states similarities and differences between antiferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic
materials.
8. Sketch a major and a minor hysteresis loops for a ferromagnetic material, indicate on each
part of the loops the direction of the change in the magnetic field.
See (internet): A concise summary of the International System of Units, the SI.