Abstract: This chapter discusses electrons in metals. It discusses contrasts in electron states, when an atom is isolated and when in a solid in the isolated atom, the states are well known. Electrons occupy orbits whose energies differ in steps that are indicated by the levels K, L, M. Normally two electrons of opposite spin occupy each orbit or energy level from the low K up, until all are used, and the average radius of an orbit increases also in the general order K, L, M …, by the horizontal extension of the K, L, M … lines. The lower lines correspond to inner or bound electrons and the upper to outer valence or free electrons. Atoms in a solid are so close that at least the valence orbits can overlap. The energy of one sublevel was slightly higher than the original and that of the other slightly less and the molecule was stable because both its electrons could go into the depressed one. Inner orbits or levels, remaining far enough apart, are virtually unchanged. However, outer or valence levels become bands. The new feature is that in effect such bands at present belong to the solid as a whole and the basic problem reduces to one concerned with how valence electrons from individual atoms behave in a common band.
Publication Year: 1971
Publication Date: 1971-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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