@@ -485,12 +485,12 @@ Your result should be linear with $|\varepsilon|$.
### Exercise 4: Two energy bands
An 'energy band' is a range of energies within which there are states available for the particles in the system. An energy band is therefore closely related to the dispersion relation. For instance, for the free electron dispersion $\varepsilon = \hbar^2k^2/2m$, the available states (=the energy band) lie between zero and infinite energy. As we will encounter more often in our course, many materials have multiple, possibly overlapping energy bands, which are each described by their own dispersion. Here we analyze a system with two, partially overlapping, energy bands. These bands are each described by a free-electron dispersion, but they are offset with repect to each other in energy. The goal is to calculate the density of states and electron occupation of the system.
The dispersion of energy band 1 is $\varepsilon_1(\mathbf{k}) = Ak^2$ and that of band 2 is $\varepsilon_2(\mathbf{k}) = Ak^2 + \varepsilon_0$, with $A = \hbar^2\/2m$. The Fermi energy is $E_F$, and we assume $E_F \gg \varepsilon_0$. We consider a _two-dimensional_ system.
The dispersion of energy band 1 is $\varepsilon_1(\mathbf{k}) = Ak^2$ and that of band 2 is $\varepsilon_2(\mathbf{k}) = Ak^2 + \varepsilon_0$, with $A = \hbar^2/2m$. The Fermi energy is $E_F$, and we assume $E_F \gg \varepsilon_0$. We consider a _two-dimensional_ system.
1. Sketch the two dispersions in one plot. Indicate the Fermi energy.
2. Calculate the density of states and sketch it as a function of energy. Hint: the total density of states is obtained by adding the density of states associated with the individual bands.
3. Express the number of electrons in the system in terms of the Fermi energy $E_F$.
4. Express the number of electrons in the energy range $\varepsilon_a<\varepsilon<\varepsilon_b$ as an integral over energy
4. Express the number of electrons in the energy range $\varepsilon_a<\varepsilon<\varepsilon_b$asanintegraloverenergy,assuming$T>0$.
5. Assuming $\varepsilon_a - E_F \gg k_B T$, explicitly calculate the integral of the previous subquestion.
[^1]:This is not completely true, as we will see when learning about [semiconductors](13_semiconductors)
