Size-dependent energy scales in the ideal fermi gas

Abstract

The simplest model for the electronic properties of small metal particles is an ideal Fermi gas confined to a finite volume. When the confining region of size L has a regular shape such as a sphere or a cube, there are two distinct scales of energy which characterize the spectrum of eigenvalues near the Fermi energy E_F ≡ ?² k ² _f/2m. The inner scale δ ～ E_F /(k_FL)² is the mean spacing between successive energy levels, while the outer energy scale Δ ～ E_F /(k_FL) describes clustering of several levels, or shell structure. Consequences for the behaviour of thermodynamic properties are investigated. There are three regimes of temperature T: normal metallic (T > Δ), shell-metallic (δ < T < Δ) and semiconductor-like (T < δ). Finally, if the shape of a hard-walled container is allowed to vary so as to minimize the energy, it is argued that the optimal shape fluctuates between spherical and distorted as L is changed.