Conductivity from Boltzmznn Equation for a metal

In summary, to find the conductivity of a metal in a uniform electric field, you can use the integral equations for u(k) and $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$ to derive an expression for the conductivity in terms of the electric field. To find an equation for $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$, you can substitute the integral equation for $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$ into the expression for $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$ and rearrange to isolate the $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$ terms.
  • #1
Abolfazl
1
0
I'm trying to show that conductivity of a metal in uniform Electric field is:

$$
\sigma=\int \frac{d\textbf{k}}{4\pi^3}\left (- \frac{\partial f}{\partial \epsilon} \right )\textbf{v(k)u(k)}
$$
where u(k) is a solution to the integral equation
$$
\textbf{v(k)}=\int \frac{d\textbf{k'}}{(2\pi)^3}W_{kk'}\textbf{[u(k)-u(k')]}
$$
$$
g(\textbf{k})=f(\textbf{k})+\delta g(\textbf{k})
$$
\delta g(k) is of order of E.
I also want to derive to linear order in E an integral equation obeyed by \delta g.
I wrote:
$$
-\frac{e}{\hbar}\frac{\partial f}{\partial E} \textbf{v.E}=\int \frac{d\textbf{k'}}{(2\pi)^3}W_{kk'}[\delta\textbf{g(k)}-\delta\textbf{g(k')}]
$$
so what is the next step?
this is problem 4 of chapter 16 Ashcroft and Mermin. I don't have any idea for part b of the problem too. Any help is appreciated.
 
Last edited:
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  • #2
The next step is to take the left-hand side of the equation and solve for $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$. This can be done by rearranging the equation to isolate the $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$ terms:$$\delta \textbf{g(k)}=\frac{e}{\hbar}\frac{\partial f}{\partial E}\textbf{v.E} + \int \frac{d\textbf{k'}}{(2\pi)^3}W_{kk'}\delta\textbf{g(k')}$$Once you have solved for $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$, you can then substitute it into the expression for the conductivity, which will give you an expression for the conductivity in terms of the electric field.For part b of the problem, you need to use the integral equation obeyed by $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$ to derive a linear equation obeyed by $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$. This can be done by substituting the integral equation into the expression for $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$:$$\delta \textbf{g(k)}=\frac{e}{\hbar}\frac{\partial f}{\partial E}\textbf{v.E} + \int \frac{d\textbf{k'}}{(2\pi)^3}W_{kk'}\left[\frac{e}{\hbar}\frac{\partial f}{\partial E}\textbf{v.E} + \int \frac{d\textbf{k''}}{(2\pi)^3}W_{k'k''}\delta\textbf{g(k'')}\right]$$This equation can then be rearranged to isolate the $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$ terms, giving you a linear equation for $\delta \textbf{g(k)}$.
 

Related to Conductivity from Boltzmznn Equation for a metal

What is the Boltzmann equation for calculating conductivity in metals?

The Boltzmann equation is a mathematical formula that relates the conductivity of a metal to its temperature and the scattering of electrons within the metal. It is given by:
σ = ne^2τ/m
where σ is the conductivity, n is the number of electrons per unit volume, e is the charge of an electron, τ is the mean free time between collisions, and m is the mass of an electron.

How does temperature affect the conductivity of a metal according to the Boltzmann equation?

According to the Boltzmann equation, as the temperature of a metal increases, the conductivity also increases. This is because at higher temperatures, the electrons in the metal have more energy and can move more freely, resulting in a higher conductivity.

What is the role of scattering in the Boltzmann equation for conductivity?

Scattering refers to the collisions between electrons and impurities or defects in the metal's lattice structure. These collisions disrupt the flow of electrons and reduce the conductivity of the metal. The Boltzmann equation takes into account the average time between these collisions (τ) in its calculation of conductivity.

Is the Boltzmann equation valid for all metals?

The Boltzmann equation is a general formula that can be applied to all metals. However, its accuracy may vary depending on the specific properties of the metal, such as the number of free electrons and the strength of scattering mechanisms. It is most accurate for metals with a high number of free electrons and weak scattering.

How does the Boltzmann equation relate to the electrical conductivity of a metal?

The Boltzmann equation is directly related to the electrical conductivity of a metal. It provides a way to calculate the conductivity of a metal based on its temperature and the properties of its electrons, such as their number and mobility. This equation is widely used in the study of metals and their conductivity.

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