Atom energy band formation and electron allotment

In summary, the Copenhagen Interpretation does not provide an explanation for the energy bands of atoms or why they only form for protons/antiprotons. This is a question that is independent of any particular interpretation and is related to the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics. Additionally, the neutralization process of energy bands when they have a full allotment of electrons is a result of the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no single-electron states can be occupied by more than one electron. This leads to the shell structure of atoms and is not dependent on any specific interpretation of quantum mechanics.
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Clueless123
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This is actually a two-part question:

1) According to the Copenhagen Interpretation, atoms have energy bands but there's no explanation of how these bands are derived, or why they only form for protons/antiprotons. Any thoughts?

2) The Copenhagen Interpretation mentions that when an atom's energy band has a full allotment of electrons, the energy band neutralizes that prevents additional electrons from entering (to ensure a one-to-one pairing with protons). Is there a detailed, step-by-step explanation of how this neutralization process manifests by the atom? Of how the additional electrons are prevented from entering the band?
 
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Clueless123 said:
This is actually a two-part question:

1) According to the Copenhagen Interpretation, atoms have energy bands but there's no explanation of how these bands are derived, or why they only form for protons/antiprotons. Any thoughts?

2) The Copenhagen Interpretation mentions that when an atom's energy band has a full allotment of electrons, the energy band neutralizes that prevents additional electrons from entering (to ensure a one-to-one pairing with protons). Is there a detailed, step-by-step explanation of how this neutralization process manifests by the atom? Of how the additional electrons are prevented from entering the band?
What references are these statements based upon?
 
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Clueless123 said:
This is actually a two-part question:
For the first question, I have no idea what you're talking about when you say "...only form for protons/antiprotons". If you could tell us what source you're using for this statement we might be better able to understand the question.
For the second question, atomic energy levels and the shell filling rules appear when we solve Schrodinger's equation for electrons bound in an atom (although when we do this exercise in our first-year QM class we take the exclusion principle as an additional assumption - the rigorous proof of that comes a few years later). So the step-by-step explanation is the step-by-step solution to Schrodinger's equation.

The Copenhagen interpretation has pretty much nothing to do with any of this.

In one of your other threads a week or so ago I suggested that you might want to try Ghirardi's book. That was good advice then and it still is.
 
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Clueless123 said:
According to the Copenhagen Interpretation
Clueless123 said:
The Copenhagen Interpretation
Discussions of particular interpretations of QM belong in the interpretations subforum, not this one.

However, it does not appear that your actual questions have anything to do with any particular interpretation. They look like straightforward questions about experimental predictions of QM, which are independent of any particular interpretation.
 
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PeterDonis said:
However, it does not appear that your actual questions have anything to do with any particular interpretati
Or reality.

Single atoms have energy levels. Bulk matter has energy bands.
 
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  • #6
Clueless123 said:
This is actually a two-part question:

1) According to the Copenhagen Interpretation, atoms have energy bands but there's no explanation of how these bands are derived, or why they only form for protons/antiprotons. Any thoughts?
The physics is independent of the interpretation (or only dependent on the minimal interpretation needed to connect the abstract mathematical formalism of QT with real-world observations). According to QT an atom is described by a Hamiltonian, which has a spectrum which has a discrete part (describing "bound states") and a continuous part (describing "scattering states"). There are no "energy bands". This is a notion related to macrocopic matter, particularly solid bodies/crystals.
Clueless123 said:
2) The Copenhagen Interpretation mentions that when an atom's energy band has a full allotment of electrons, the energy band neutralizes that prevents additional electrons from entering (to ensure a one-to-one pairing with protons). Is there a detailed, step-by-step explanation of how this neutralization process manifests by the atom? Of how the additional electrons are prevented from entering the band?
Again this has nothing to do with whatever interpretation of QT you use. If I understand your pretty vague ideas right, you are referring to the Pauli exclusion principle, which is valid for fermions, and electrons are fermions. It says that the many-electron wavefunctions are completely antisymmetric under exchange of any two electrons. This implies that no single-electron states can be occupied with more than one electron, and this leads to the "shell structure" of the atoms.
 
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FAQ: Atom energy band formation and electron allotment

What is an energy band in the context of atoms and solids?

An energy band is a range of energy levels that electrons can occupy in a solid. These bands form due to the overlap of atomic orbitals when atoms come together to form a solid, leading to the splitting of discrete atomic energy levels into a continuum of closely spaced levels.

How do energy bands form in a solid?

Energy bands form when atoms are brought close together, such as in a crystal lattice. The atomic orbitals of adjacent atoms overlap, causing the discrete energy levels of individual atoms to split and merge into bands. This results in the formation of the valence band, which is occupied by electrons, and the conduction band, which can accept electrons and allow them to move freely, contributing to electrical conductivity.

What is the difference between the valence band and the conduction band?

The valence band is the highest range of electron energies where electrons are normally present at absolute zero temperature. The conduction band is the range of electron energies higher than the valence band where electrons are free to move within the material, contributing to electrical conductivity. The energy gap between these two bands is known as the band gap.

What is the significance of the band gap in semiconductors?

The band gap is the energy difference between the valence band and the conduction band. In semiconductors, this gap is small enough that thermal energy at room temperature can excite electrons from the valence band to the conduction band, allowing the material to conduct electricity. The size of the band gap determines the electrical and optical properties of the semiconductor.

How are electrons allotted in energy bands?

Electrons are allotted in energy bands according to the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two electrons can occupy the same quantum state simultaneously. In a solid, electrons fill up the available energy states starting from the lowest energy levels in the valence band. When the valence band is filled, any additional electrons must occupy higher energy states, potentially in the conduction band if sufficient energy is available to overcome the band gap.

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