The Mystery of the Mass of a Vacancy

In summary: Holes are considered to have mass because they can move under the influence of electric and magnetic fields, just like electrons. However, the mass of holes is not the same as the mass of electrons, as it takes into account the effects of the lattice and interactions. Additionally, for a hole to move, electrons also need to move in order to rearrange and allow the hole to move. This can result in different masses for single electrons and multiple electrons that make up hole motion in different materials. In summary, holes are vacancies left by electrons and behave as positively charged particles. They have mass because they can move under the influence of electric and magnetic fields, but this mass is different from the mass of electrons as it takes into account the effects
  • #1
tina_singh
14
0
a hole is the absence of electron..so basically its just a vacancy..
so why does it have a mass??..how can a vacancy hav a mass and dat too greater than electron itself??..can any1 pleasez help..
 
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  • #2
Two comments: First, in semiconductor physics the electron and hole masses given are effective masses which means that the effect of having a lattice and interactions is incorporated into the mass, thus making it an effective mass which is very different from the bare electron mass. Second, for a hole to move around, electrons need to move around, too. They have to rearrange such that the vacancy (the hole) moves around. Depending on the material you examine, the motion of a single electron and the collective motion of many electrons which constitutes hole motion may be influenced differently by the presence of the periodic lattice. Therefore the masses may differ.
 
  • #3
When an electron is released from a bond it becomes 'free' and can move under the influence of electric (and magnetic) fields. This causes electrical conduction and it is logical to refer to the mass of an electron.
A hole is the vacancy left by the electron and behaves as a + charge. Electrons can move into the hole and therefore the hole can be considered to move. Even though movement of the hole is just another version of moving electrons it is convenient to consider the holes as + charged particles. They will move under the influence of electric (and magnetic) fields and to describe their motion they can be assigned a mass.
 
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FAQ: The Mystery of the Mass of a Vacancy

What is the "Mystery of the Mass of a Vacancy"?

The "Mystery of the Mass of a Vacancy" refers to the unknown reason for the discrepancy between the predicted mass of a vacancy in a crystal lattice and the actual measured mass.

Why is the mass of a vacancy important in materials science?

The mass of a vacancy affects various properties of materials, such as their mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Understanding this mystery can provide insights into how materials behave and how they can be manipulated for specific applications.

What are some proposed explanations for the difference in mass of a vacancy?

Some proposed explanations include the presence of impurities or defects in the crystal lattice, the effect of temperature and pressure on the vacancy, and the influence of quantum mechanics on the behavior of particles in the lattice.

How is the mass of a vacancy measured?

The mass of a vacancy is typically measured using techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, or nuclear magnetic resonance. These techniques can provide information on the atomic structure and composition of the crystal lattice, allowing for the calculation of the mass of a vacancy.

What are the potential implications of solving the mystery of the mass of a vacancy?

Solving this mystery could lead to a better understanding of the fundamental properties of materials and potentially open up new possibilities for designing and manipulating materials for various applications. It could also have implications for other fields of science, such as quantum mechanics and solid-state physics.

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