The Fermi energy is a concept in quantum mechanics usually referring to the energy of the highest occupied quantum state in a system of fermions at absolute zero temperature.
Confusingly, the term "Fermi energy" is often used to describe a different but closely related concept, the Fermi level (also called chemical potential). The Fermi energy and Fermi level are the same at absolute zero, but differ at other temperatures, as described below.
Read more about Fermi Energy: Illustration of The Concept For A One Dimensional Square Well, Three-dimensional Case, Related Quantities
Famous quotes containing the word energy:
“Three elements go to make up an idea. The first is its intrinsic quality as a feeling. The second is the energy with which it affects other ideas, an energy which is infinite in the here-and-nowness of immediate sensation, finite and relative in the recency of the past. The third element is the tendency of an idea to bring along other ideas with it.”
—Charles Sanders Peirce (1839–1914)