The Reflection of Electrons From Crystals and the States of Divalent Crystals

Author: Weinstein, David Harold

Year: 1933

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Unknown, Unknown

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Physics

DOI: 10.7907/NW5Z-3597

Abstract

In the first part, the reflection of electrons from crystals is considered. We here treat this problem when the potential of the crystal is a completely general three dimensional Fourier series, whereas previously only very special cases were treated. Also our method is quite transparent while the previous methods were obscured by involved numerical computations. Also, we show quite generally what had been inferred from very special cases, including the Bragg law, of reflection. The relation of the Fourier components of the potential of the crystal to the optical planes is clearly shown. How the potential of the crystal is to be obtained from the experimental data is discussed, and a formula for the width of the bands of total reflection is given.

In the second part the energy states of divalent crystals are considered. The two limiting cases of weak and strong coupling between the, two valence electrons of each atom are shown to lead to energy expressions of the same form, and we conclude that there should be no difference in the ferromagnetism of monovalent and divalent crystals except as due to differences in the constants of the energy.

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