The Fermi level is a hypothetical level of potential energy for an electron inside a crystalline solid. Occupying such a level would give an electron (in the fields of all its neighboring nuclei) a potential energy equal to its chemical potential (average diffusion energy per electron) as they both appear in the Fermi-Dirac distribution function,
which calculates the probability that an electron with energy occupies a particular single-particle state (density of states) within such a solid. T is the absolute temperature and k is Boltzmann's constant. When the exponential equals 1, and the value of describes the Fermi level as a state with 50% chance of being occupied by an electron for the given temperature of the solid.
Read more about Fermi Level: Other Terminology Problems, Some Other Complications, Summary
Famous quotes containing the word level:
“Alls oblique;
Theres nothing level in our cursed natures
But direct villainy. Therefore be abhorred
All feasts, societies, and throngs of men!”
—William Shakespeare (15641616)