Band structure and thermodynamic potentials

Abstract

The behavior of different thermodynamic functions of a system of delocalized electrons in a crystal is considered in the single-band strong coupling approximation depending on the degree of energy band filling and temperature. The chemical potential, grand thermodynamic potential, internal energy, free energy, entropy, and heat capacity are numerically calculated. Dependences of these quantities on the electron concentration at high temperatures are investigated. Their limited energy spectrum leads to the special features in the behavior of these quantities in comparison with the free electron gas. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.