Density Of States

Introduction
Density of states is an important parameter
which provides an idea how the electrons or
holes are populated in the conduction band or
valance band.
It is a result of quantum mechanical analysis.

What is density of States

Density of States (DOS) is referred to the
number of quantum states present per unit
energy per unit volume. In other words, the
density of states, indicates how densely
quantum states are packed in a particular
system. It is denoted by term g(E).
To study the concept of DOS we need a
quantum mechanical tool which is explained
in next section.

Consider an electron trapped in an energy well with infinite

potential barriers. The reflection coefficient for infinite
potential is 1 so the electron can not penetrate the barrier.
From the Schrodinger Wave Equation, we
have

Potentia
l Energy
Electron

Figure 1: Electron in
a potential well.

What does the equation mean ?

b
c
Figure 2: Particle in an infinitely deep one dimensional potential
well. (a)
First four allowed energy levels, (b) wave function
and (c) ||2 associated with first four energy levels, ||2 is
proportional to the probability of finding the particle at a given
point in the potential well

Figure 3: Allowed infinite well particle energy versus counter

propagating
wave momentum (discrete points) referenced
against the free
particle E-p relationship.

We got the formula for k as:

But as we know k is a momentum vector and is a 3-dimensional

quantity so it has 3 components which can be expressed as:

kx

n
nx
n
, k y y , and k z z
a
a
a

Since energy is not a vector, a more accurate expression for

energy is: 2 2

k h
2m

In the 3-D system, the total energy is given by:

h2 2
E
k x k y2 k z2

2m

Wave function is valid at regular interval of

a
valid solutions in k space :

. Below is a plot of

Each green or red dot represents two quantum states

(one for an electron with spin up and one for spin
down). The red dots are those between the intervals of
k and k+dk. To find the density of these states, we need
to first examine the unit cell and its volume. The unit cell
is the smallest shape which can be repeatedly be used to
construct a lattice as in a diamond crystal, for example.

Examining the image above

and knowing that the
a by an interval of
quantum states are separated
, the
unit cell would be a cube of which the volume would be

V0
a

The density of states problem is a problem of finding the

and E
+dE
number of states inEthe
interval
of
. In kspace, the interval is simply k and k+dk. Because we are
operating three dimensions, k represents the radius of a
sphere in k-space and dk is the thickness of the sphere.
Hence, a shell is created which encloses a certain amount
of quantum states in an infinitesimal interval. We use the
sphere because k is directly related to E , and all the
points on the sphere have equal energy. Since we want
to find the density of states in an infinitesimal interval of
energy, the shape used for the boundaries of the interval
must represent equal energies. The volume of the shell is
essentially the surface area of the inner sphere (of radius
k ) multiplied by the thickness
2 of the sphere (dk).

V 4 k dk

 1
V 4 k 2 dk
8
1
k 2 dk
2
The number of quantum states in an interval of dk is found by
dividing the volume of the shell by the volume of a single state
1 2
(i.e. the volume of the unit cell).
k dk
2
g (k )dk 2
3


a
a3 2
2 k dk

Since we know the relation between k and E, we can find what we

are searching: the density of states as a function of energy. Once
again, the relationship between k and E is

2mE
h2

1 2m 2mE

dk 2

2 h
h 2
m 2mE
2

h h2

dE

dE

Substituting the results into the density of states equation will give
the density of states in terms of energy.

a3 2
g (k )dk 2 k dk

a m 2mE 2mE

g ( E )dE 2 2

h h2
h 2

dE

Multiplying out the expression gives the final result for the density
of states.
1
1
1
2
2
2
m m
E E 2
3 2 2
a
g ( E ) dE 2
dE
4 1

hh

a
2 2
3

2 2

a 2m
g ( E ) dE 2 2
2 h

EdE

EdE

Density of states/unit volume can be obtained by dividing the

above equation by the volume

2D Density of States

In 2D, an electron is confined along one dimension but able to travel

freely in the other two directions. In the image below, an electron
would be confined in the z-direction but would travel freely in the XY
plane.

Following the same procedure which was used in the 3D situation,

the area of the unit cell is:
2

A0
a
Next, we need to find the area of the ring and then divide by the
area of the unit cell. The area of a circle is r2 where r is the radius.
The area of the ring,
is ) 2 k 2
A then,
(k dk

2 kdk
However,
only
positive values of k
should be considered.
The figure by the
right side highlights
the correct area.

Therefore, we only need one-fourth of the entire area of the ring.

The revised area is

1
2 kdk
4

kdk
2

Dividing the ring area by the unit cell area, the density of states can
be found.

A
0

g (k )dk 2

kdk
(2) 2 2


a
a2
kdk

Since we know the relation between k and E, we can find what we are
searching: the density of states as a function of energy. Once again, the
relationship between k and E is
2mE
k
h2
1 2m 2mE

dk 2

2 h
h 2
m 2mE
2

h h2

dE

dE

Substituting the results into the density of states equation will give the
density of states in terms of energy.
1
1
2
a 2 2mE 2 m 2mE

2
dE
g ( E )dE
2
2
h
h
h

a2m
g ( E )dE 2 dE
h

Notice that the 2D density of states, interestingly, does not depend

1D Density of States

The density of states for a 1D quantum mechanical system exhibits a

unique solution which has application in things such as nanowires and
carbon nanotubes. In both the x and y directions, the electron is
confined, but it moves freely in the z direction.

 L
g (k )dk 2
L0
(2)

dk


a

2a
dk

Substituting dE for dk and using the well defined relation

yields
2a
g (k )dk
dk

1
2
2a m 2mE

dE
g ( E )dE
h2 h2

a (2)2 2 (m)m

h2 h1

a

g ( E )dE

2m 1
dE

h2
E

dE

Thank You