ECE 5205 Spring 2024 HW#1 1-30-2024
Submit in class on 2-6-2024 11:00 am
Total 20 points
Problem 1 ( 3 points)
The work function of a material refers to the minimum energy required to remove
an electron from the material. Assume that the work function of gold is 4.90 eV and
that of cesium is 1.90 eV. Calculate the maximum wavelength of light for the
photoelectric emission of electrons for gold and cesium. Which emitted light is
visible?
Problem 2 (4 points)
Calculate the de Broglie wavelength, =h/p, for: (a) an electron with kinetic energy
of (i) T=1.0 eV, and (ii) T=100 eV. (b) a proton with kinetic energy of T=1.0 eV. (c) a
singly ionized tungsten atom with kinetic energy of T=1.0 eV. (d) a 2000 kg truck
traveling at 20 m/s. (look up atomic weight of tungsten W; atomic weight unit is
commonly expressed in unified atomic mass units (u.a.u.) where by international
agreement;1 unified atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12 of the mass of a single
carbon-12 atom (at rest). 1 a. u. is 1.660538921(73)×10−27 kg).
Problem 3 (3 points)
According to classical physics, the average energy of an electron in an electron gas at
thermal equilibrium is 3kT/2 where T is the absolute temperature in Kelvin, and k is
the Botzmann constant. Determine, for T=300K, the average electron kinetic energy
(in eV), average electron momentum, and the de Broglie wavelength of the ‘thermal’
electron.
Problem 4 (3 points)
(a) Calculate the first three energy levels of an electron in an infinite potential well
of width 5 A (Angstrom). (b) The width of the infinite well is now doubled from 5 A
to 10 A. Calculate the first three levels in terms of eV for an electron.
Problem 5 (5 points)
4) The quantum mechanical formula for electron tunneling probability T to tunnel
through a rectangular barrier is given by the formula given below. Assume a mass of
a free electron. The barrier height of the barrier is V o=10 eV. The thickness of the
barrier a is a) 5 nm and b) 1 nm. The kinetic energy of the electron is E=7 eV
(a) Calculate what is the tunneling probability for a=5 nm and 1nm
(b) Calculate what is the reflection coefficient R (R=1-T) for a=1 nm
(c) Calculate the tunneling probability for a=1 nm when the kinetic energy of
electron is E=3 eV
(d) Summarize your observations resulting from these calculations
Problem 6 (2 points)
Show that the most probable value of the radius r for the 1s electron (lowest orbital
electron) is equal to the Bohr radius ao. The radial function for the 1s electron has
been given in the lecture notes (slide of Introduction to Quantum Physics Part 2).
(Note it is a 3D probability to find the electron anywhere at a distance r).
