Problem Set #2: Carriers in Semiconductors
Assigned: Monday, September 30
Due: Monday, October 7 (online submission to i-Campus)
Notes: There are 2 problems in this problem set. Please turn in solutions to all problems together and
show all work (steps of the calculations). Include units for all final answers.
Reading: Lecture Notes: 2, 3
Textbook: Chapter 2, 3
Problem 1. Electron confinement
An electron with finite energy is in a one-dimensional infinite potential well.
U(x)
∞ ∞
Region Region Region
I II III
0 a x
(a) What is the probability of finding the electron in regions I and III?
𝜕𝜕2 𝜓𝜓(𝑥𝑥)
(b) For Region II, solve the time-independent Schrödinger equation + 𝑘𝑘 2 𝜓𝜓(𝑥𝑥) = 0,
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 2
where 𝑘𝑘 = �2𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 ⁄ℏ2 , to obtain the wavefunction solution 𝜓𝜓(𝑥𝑥).
(c) If the well width a = 1 nm, calculate the ground energy level (n=1) an electron may
occupy.
(d) If an electron drops from the third energy level (n=3) to the first (n=1), what is the
wavelength of a photon that might be emitted?
Problem 2. Electron distribution
(a) Under equilibrium conditions and T > 0K, what is the probability of an electron state being
occupied if it is located at the Fermi level?
(b) Assume that the Fermi energy level is exactly in the center of the bandgap energy of Si at
T = 300 K. Calculate the probability that an energy state in the bottom of the conduction
band (Ec) is occupied by an electron. (EG = 1.12 eV for Si at 300 K)
(c) For the semiconductor from (b), calculate the probability that an energy state in the top of
the valence band (Ev) is empty.
