The Density of Energy States for Nonparabolic Dispersion Law in a Strong Magnetic Field

For nonparabolic dispersion law is determined by the density of the energy states (Ns) in a quantizing magnetic field. The effect of temperature on the expansion of the Lan-dau levels of electrons semiconductors with the nonquadratic dispersion is studied. The density of states at low temperatures is calculated from data on high-tem- perature Ns.

• Quantizing Magnetic Field
• The Landau Levels
• The Model Kane
• Nonparabolic Zone
• The Density of States

1. Introduction

In a study of the energy spectra of electrons in semiconductors and metals exceptional role has played the application of quantizing magnetic fields. In the works of [1] the temperature dependence of the density of states in quantizing magnetic fields were considered as the result of thermal broadening of the Landau levels. In those works studies showed, that the density of states of the continuous spectrum measured at the temperature of liquid nitrogen at low temperatures turns into discrete Landau levels. However, in these works are considered only in the quadratic dispersion law.

The aim of this work is to determining the temperature dependence of the density of energy states in a quantizing magnetic field for the model Kane and into the effect of temperature of a sample on the results of treatment of experimental data.

2. Determination of the Density of Energy States in a Quantizing Magnetic Field for the Kane Dispersion Law

In a magnetic field the energy of free electrons with a quadratic dispersion law, and in view of the spinal level splitting energy takes the following form [2]:

In a magnetic field density of states for a parabolic band is determined by the following expression

However, if the energy dependence of the wave vector is not described by a quadratic form, such as, for electrons in InSb energy levels of the charge carriers in the magnetic field is not equidistant, since cyclotron mass determined by the expression

and therefore the cyclotron frequency depends on Е and k_z.

Nonparabolicity conduction band in compounds III-IV and II-VI is the result of interaction between the conduction and valence bands three. In magnetic field energy levels for the three bands (apart from the heavy hole band that does not interact with them) are cubic equation [3] [4]:

Here, -energy electrons in the conduction band in view of spin in a quantizing magnetic field, -width band-gap, -the spin-orbit splitting, P-the matrix element.

From this condition of the cubic Equation (4) reduces to the square, the solution of which electrons of the conduction band is given by

Equation (5) is applicable only for narrow-gap semiconductors.

From Equation (5) we define k_z without spin:

We return now to the calculation of the density of states with a nonparabolic dispersion law in a magnetic field. The movement of free electrons along the z axis and is quantized by k_z. That is,

According to the expression (6) and (7) the number of states the energy interval from

to E:

Here, -the density of the energy states of a Kane dispersion law in a quantizing magnetic field. At expression (10) goes into a parabolic dispersion law (2). In this expression, the temperature-induced broadening of the energy levels is disregarded.

Thermal broadening of the levels in a magnetic field gives rise to the smoothing of discrete levels. Thermal broadening is to be taken into account using a derivative of the

energy distribution function of the Fermi-Dirac. At absolute zero of temperature, the function transforms into the delta-function of Dirac.

In order to take into account the temperature dependence of the density of states, we

expend into series with respect to functions (Figure 1).

We then obtain the density of energy states depending on temperature [1] (Figure 1):

Figure 1

Determination of the change in the density of energy states with decreasing temperature in high magnetic fields using the Kane model

The corresponding expression at transforms into (10).

3. Conclusion

We developed a new method for determining the density of the energy states in a quantizing magnetic field for the Kane model. For a nonquadratic dispersion law was shown that the density of states in a strong magnetic field at an increased temperature coincides with the density of states in the sample without a magnetic field.

References

1. Gulyamov, G., Erkaboev, U.I. and Sharibaev. Yu.N. (2014) Semiconductor, 48, 1323-1328. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063782614100108

2. Brandt, N.B., Kulbachinsky. V.A. (2007) Quasiparticles in Condensed Matter Physics. Fizmatlit, Moscow, Ch. 6, 290. [In Russian]

3. Tsidilkovsky, I.M. (1972) Electrons and Holes in Semiconductors. Nauka, Moscow, Ch. 5, 457. [In Russian]

4. Pavlov, N.V. and Zegrya, G.G. (2015) Semiconductor, 49, 604-614. https://doi.org/10.1134/S106378261505019X