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| [[Image:Bulkbandstructure.gif|thumb|right|300px|Bulk [[band structure]] for Si,Ge,GaAs and InAs generated with [[tight binding]] model. Note that Si and Ge are indirect with minima at X and L, while GaAs and InAs are direct band gap materials.]]
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| As defined in [[solid state physics]], a particle's '''effective mass''' (often denoted {{math|''m''<sup>*</sup>}}) is the [[mass]] that it seems to have when responding to forces, or the mass that it seems to have when ''en masse'' with other identical particles in a [[Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution|thermal distribution]]. One of the results from the [[band theory]] of solids is that the movement of particles in a periodic potential, over long distances larger than the lattice spacing, can be very different from their motion in a vacuum.
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| The effective mass is a quantity that is used to simplify band structures by constructing an analogy to the behavior of a free particle with that mass.
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| For some purposes and some materials, the effective mass can be considered to be a simple constant of a material. In general, however, the value of effective mass depends on the purpose for which it is used, and can vary depending on a number of factors.
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| For [[electron]]s or [[electron hole]]s in a solid, the effective mass is usually stated in units of the true mass of the electron ''m<sub>e</sub>'' (9.11×10<sup>−31</sup> kg). In these units it is usually in the range 0.01 to 10, but can also be lower or higher, for example reaching 1,000 in exotic [[heavy fermion]] materials, or anywhere from zero to infinity<!-- Note to editors: Yes, graphene really does have infinite effective mass by some definitions. Please read the article before changing this, and understand that relativistic rest mass is not the same thing as effective mass. --> (depending on definition) in [[graphene]]. As it simplifies the more general band theory, the electronic effective mass can be seen as an important basic parameter that influences measurable properties of a solid, including everything from the efficiency of a solar cell to the speed of an integrated circuit.
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| ==Simple case: parabolic, isotropic dispersion relation==
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| At the highest energies of the valence band in many semiconductors (Ge, Si, GaAs, ...), and the lowest energies of the conduction band in some semiconductors (GaAs, ...), the band structure {{math|''E''('''k''')}} can be locally approximated as:
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| :<math>E(\mathbf k) = E_0 + \frac{\hbar^2 \mathbf k^2}{2 m^*}</math>
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| where {{math|''E''('''k''')}} is the energy of an electron at [[wavevector]] {{math|'''k'''}} in that band, {{math|''E''<sub>0</sub>}} is a constant giving the edge of energy of that band, and {{math|''m''<sup>*</sup>}} is a constant (the effective mass).
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| It can be shown that the electrons placed in these bands behave as free electrons except with a different mass, as long as their energy stays within the range of validity of the approximation above. As a result, the electron mass in models such as the [[Drude model]] must be replaced with the effective mass.
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| One remarkable property is that the effective mass can become ''negative'', when the band curves downwards away from a maximum. As a result of the negative mass, the electrons respond to electric and magnetic forces by gaining velocity in the opposite direction compared to normal; even though these electrons have negative charge, they move in trajectories as if they had positive charge (and positive mass). For a semiconductor's valence band, which is nearly full of electrons, the non-intuitive behaviour of negative-mass electrons is typically side-stepped by instead speaking of [[electron hole]]s.
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| In any case, if the band structure has the simple parabolic form described above, then the value of effective mass is unambiguous. Unfortunately, this parabolic form is not valid for describing most materials. In such complex materials there is no single definition of "effective mass" but instead multiple definitions, each suited to a particular purpose. The rest of the article describes these effective masses in detail.
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| ==Intermediate case: parabolic, anisotropic dispersion relation==
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| [[Image:Silicon conduction band ellipsoids.JPG|thumb|Constant energy ellipsoids in silicon near the six conduction band minima. For each valley (band minimum), the effective masses are ''m<sub>ℓ</sub>'' = 0.92''m''{{sub|''e''}} ("longitudinal"; along one axis) and ''m<sub>t</sub>'' = 0.19''m''{{sub|''e''}} ("transverse"; along two axes).<ref name =Kittel1>{{cite book |author=Charles Kittel |title=op. cit. |page=216 |isbn=0-471-11181-3}}</ref>]]
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| In some important semiconductors (notably, silicon) the lowest energies of the conduction band are not symmetrical, as the constant-energy surfaces are now [[ellipsoid]]s, rather than the spheres in the isotropic case. Each conduction band minimum can be approximated only by
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| :<math>E(\mathbf k) = E_0 + \frac{\hbar^2}{2 m_x^*}(k_x - k_{0,x})^2 + \frac{\hbar^2}{2 m_y^*}(k_y - k_{0,y})^2 + \frac{\hbar^2}{2 m_z^*}(k_z - k_{0,z})^2</math>
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| where ''x'', ''y'', and ''z'' axes are aligned to the principal axes of the ellipsoids, and {{math|''m''<sub>x</sub><sup>*</sup>}}, {{math|''m''<sub>y</sub><sup>*</sup>}} and {{math|''m''<sub>z</sub><sup>*</sup>}} are the inertial effective masses along these different axes. The offsets {{math|''k''<sub>0,''x''</sub>}}, {{math|''k''<sub>0,''y''</sub>}}, and {{math|''k''<sub>0,''z''</sub>}} reflect that the conduction band minimum is no longer centered at zero wavevector.
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| (These effective masses correspond to the principal components of the inertial effective mass tensor, described later.)
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| In this case, the electron motion is no longer directly comparable to a free electron; the speed of an electron will depend on its direction, and it will accelerate to a different degree depending on the direction of the force. Still, in crystals such as silicon the overall properties such as conductivity appear to be isotropic. This is because there are multiple [[valley (solid-state physics)|valley]]s (conduction-band minima), each with effective masses rearranged along different axes. The valleys collectively act together to give an isotropic conductivity. It is possible to average the different axes' effective masses together in some way, to regain the free electron picture. However, the averaging method turns out to depend on the purpose:<ref>http://ecee.colorado.edu/~bart/book/effmass.htm</ref>
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| {{unordered list
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| |1= For calculation of the total density of states and the total carrier density, via the [[geometric mean]] combined with a degeneracy factor {{math|''g''}} which counts the number of valleys (in silicon {{math|''g'' {{=}} 6}}):<ref name="green">{{cite doi|10.1063/1.345414 }}</ref>
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| :<math>m^*_\text{density} = g^\frac{2}{3} \sqrt[3]{m_x m_y m_z}</math>
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| (This effective mass corresponds to the density of states effective mass, described later.)
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| For the per-valley density of states and per-valley carrier density, the degeneracy factor is left out.
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| |2= For the purposes of calculating conductivity as in the Drude model, via the [[harmonic mean]]
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| :<math>m^*_\text{conductivity} = 3 \Bigg[\frac{1}{m_x^*} + \frac{1}{m_y^*} + \frac{1}{m_z^*}\Bigg]^{-1} </math>
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| Since the Drude law also depends on scattering time, which varies greatly, this effective mass is rarely used; conductivity is instead usually expressed in terms of carrier density and an empirically measured parameter, [[carrier mobility]].
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| }}
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| ==General case==
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| In general the dispersion relation cannot be approximated as parabolic, and in such cases the effective mass should be precisely defined if it is to be used at all.
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| Here a commonly stated definition of effective mass is the ''inertial'' effective mass tensor defined below, however in general it is a matrix-valued function of wavevector, and even more complex than the band structure itself.
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| Other effective masses are more relevant to directly measurable phenomena.
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| ===Inertial effective mass tensor===
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| A classical particle under the influence of a force accelerates according to [[Newton's second law]], {{math|'''a''' {{=}} ''m''<sup>-1</sup>'''F'''}}.
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| This intuitive principle appears identically in semiclassical approximations derived from band structure, however each of the symbols has a slightly modified meaning: acceleration becomes the rate of change in [[group velocity]], and force gives a rate of change in [[crystal momentum]]. The inverse mass expresses the change in group velocity due to a change in crystal momentum and becomes a [[tensor]], given by:
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| :<math>\left[M_{\rm inert}^{-1}\right]_{ij} = \hbar^{-2} \frac{\partial^2 E}{\partial k_i \partial k_j}</math>
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| Its inverse {{math|''M''<sub>inert</sub>}} is known as the '''effective mass tensor'''.
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| The inertial expression for effective mass is commonly used, but note that its properties can be counter-intuitive:
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| * The effective mass tensor generally varies depending on {{math|'''k'''}}, meaning that the mass of the particle actually changes after it is subject to an impulse. The only cases in which it remains constant are those of parabolic bands, described above.
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| * The effective mass tensor diverges (becomes infinite) for linear dispersion relations, such as with photons or electrons in [[graphene]].<ref>{{cite arXiv|eprint=1206.6100|author1=Viktor Ariel|author2=Amir Natan|title=Electron Effective Mass in Graphene|class=physics.gen-ph|year=2012}}</ref> (These particles are sometimes said to be massless, however this refers to their having zero [[rest mass]]; rest mass is a distinct concept from effective mass.)
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| ===Cyclotron effective mass===
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| Classically, a charged particle in a magnetic field moves in a helix along the magnetic field axis. The period ''T'' of its motion depends on its mass ''m'' and charge ''e'',
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| :<math>T = \left\vert\frac{2\pi m}{e B}\right\vert</math>
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| where ''B'' is the [[magnetic flux density]].
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| For particles in asymmetrical band structures, the particle no longer moves exactly in a helix, however its motion transverse to the magnetic field still moves in a closed loop (not necessarily a circle). Moreover, the time to complete one of these loops still varies inversely with magnetic field, and so it is possible to define an ''cyclotron effective mass'' from the measured period, using the above equation.
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| The semiclassical motion of the particle can be described by a closed loop in k-space. Throughout this loop, the particle maintains a constant energy, as well as a constant momentum along the magnetic field axis. By defining {{math|''A''}} to be the {{math|'''k'''-space}} area enclosed by this loop (this area depends on the energy {{math|''E''}}, the direction of the magnetic field, and the on-axis wavevector {{math|''k''<sub>''B''</sub>}}), then it can be shown that the cyclotron effective mass depends on the band structure via the derivative of this area in energy:
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| :<math>m^*(E,\hat B,k_{\hat B}) = \frac{\hbar^2}{2\pi} \cdot \frac{\partial}{\partial E} A\left(E,\hat B, k_{\hat B}\right)</math>
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| Typically, experiments that measure cyclotron motion ([[cyclotron resonance]], [[de Haas-van Alphen effect]], etc.) are restricted to only probe motion for energies near the [[Fermi level]].
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| In [[two-dimensional electron gas]]es, the cyclotron effective mass is defined only for one magnetic field direction (perpendicular) and the out-of-plane wavevector drops out. The cyclotron effective mass therefore is only a function of energy, and it turns out to be exactly related to the density of states at that energy via the relation <math>g(E) = g_v m^*/(\pi \hbar^2)</math>, where {{math|''g''<sub>v</sub>}} is the valley degeneracy. Such a simple relationship does not apply in three dimensional materials.
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| ===Density of states effective masses (lightly doped semiconductors) ===
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| {| class="wikitable" style="float: right; text-align: center;"
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| |+ Density of states effective mass in various semiconductors<ref name="green"/><ref>S.Z. Sze, ''Physics of Semiconductor Devices,'' ISBN 0-471-05661-8.</ref><ref>W.A. Harrison, ''Electronic Structure and the Properties of Solids,'' ISBN 0-486-66021-4.</ref><ref>[http://www.semiconductors.co.uk/propiviv5431.htm This site] gives the effective masses of Silicon at different temperatures.</ref>
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| |-
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| ! scope="col" | Group
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| ! scope="col" | Material
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| ! scope="col" | Electron
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| ! scope="col" | Hole
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| |-
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| ! scope="row" rowspan="3" | IV
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| | [[Silicon|Si]] (4K) || 1.06 || 0.59
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| | [[Silicon|Si]] (300K) || 1.09 || 1.15
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| | [[Germanium|Ge]] || 0.55 || 0.37
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| |-
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| ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | III-V
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| | [[Gallium arsenide|GaAs]] || 0.067 || 0.45
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| |-
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| | [[Indium antimonide|InSb]] || 0.013 || 0.6
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| ! scope="row" rowspan="2" | II-VI
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| | [[Zinc oxide|ZnO]] || 0.29 || 1.21
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| |-
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| | [[Zinc selenide|ZnSe]] || 0.17 || 1.44
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| |}
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| In semiconductors with low levels of doping, the electron concentration in the conduction band is in general given by
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| :<math>n_e = N_C \exp\left(-\frac{E_{\rm C} - E_{\rm F}}{kT}\right)</math>
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| where {{math|''E''<sub>F</sub>}} is the [[Fermi level]], {{math|''E''<sub>C</sub>}} is the minimum energy of the conduction band, and {{math|''N''<sub>C</sub>}} is a concentration coefficient that depends on temperature. The above relationship for {{math|''n''<sub>e</sub>}} can be shown to apply for any conduction band shape (including non-parabolic, asymmetric bands), provided the doping is weak ({{math|''E''<sub>C</sub>-''E''<sub>F</sub> >> kT}}); this is a consequence of [[Fermi-Dirac statistics]] limiting towards [[Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics]].
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| The concept of effective mass is useful to model the temperature dependence of {{math|''N''<sub>C</sub>}}, thereby allowing the above relationship to be used over a range of temperatures. In an idealized three-dimensional material with a parabolic band, the concentration coefficient is given by
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| :<math>\quad N_C = 2\left(\frac{2\pi m_e^* kT}{h^2}\right)^\frac{3}{2}</math>
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| In semiconductors with non-simple band structures, this relationship is used to define an effective mass, known as the '''density of states effective mass of electrons'''. The name "density of states effective mass" is used since the above expression for {{math|''N''<sub>C</sub>}} is derived via the [[density of states]] for a parabolic band.
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| In practice, the effective mass extracted in this way is not quite constant in temperature ({{math|''N''<sub>C</sub>}} does not exactly vary as {{math|''T''<sup>3/2</sup>}}). In silicon, for example, this effective mass varies by a few percent between absolute zero and room temperature because the band structure itself slightly changes in shape. These band structure distortions are a result of changes in electron-phonon interaction energies, with the lattice's thermal expansion playing a minor role.<ref name="green"/>
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| Similarly, the number of holes in the valence band, and the '''density of states effective mass of holes''' are defined by:
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| :<math>n_h = N_V \exp\left(-\frac{E_{\rm F} - E_{\rm V}}{kT}\right), \quad N_V = 2\left(\frac{2\pi m_h^* kT}{h^2}\right)^\frac{3}{2}</math>
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| where {{math|''E''<sub>V</sub>}} is the maximum energy of the valence band. Practically, this effective mass tends to vary greatly between absolute zero and room temperature in many materials (e.g., a factor of two in silicon), as there are multiple valence bands with distinct and significantly non-parabolic character, all peaking near the same energy.<ref name="green"/>
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| ==Experimental determination==
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| Traditionally effective masses were measured using [[electron cyclotron resonance|cyclotron resonance]], a method in which microwave absorption of a semiconductor immersed in a magnetic field goes through a sharp peak when the microwave frequency equals the cyclotron frequency <math>\scriptstyle f_c \;=\; \frac{eB}{2\pi m^*}</math>. In recent years effective masses have more commonly been determined through measurement of [[band structure]]s using techniques such as angle-resolved [[Photoelectric effect|photo emission]] ([[Angle Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy|ARPES]]) or, most directly, the [[de Haas-van Alphen effect]]. Effective masses can also be estimated using the coefficient γ of the linear term in the low-temperature electronic [[specific heat]] at constant volume <math>\scriptstyle c_v</math>. The specific heat depends on the effective mass through the density of states at the [[Fermi level]] and as such is a measure of degeneracy as well as band curvature. Very large estimates of carrier mass from specific heat measurements have given rise to the concept of [[heavy fermion]] materials. Since carrier [[electron mobility|mobility]] depends on the ratio of carrier collision lifetime <math>\tau</math> to effective mass, masses can in principle be determined from transport measurements, but this method is not practical since carrier collision probabilities are typically not known a priori.
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| ==Significance==
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| The effective mass is used in transport calculations, such as transport of electrons under the influence of fields or carrier gradients, but also is used to calculate the carrier density and [[density of states]] in semiconductors. These masses are related but, as explained in the previous sections, are not the same because the weighting of various directions and wavevectors are different.
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| Certain III-V compounds such as GaAs and InSb have far smaller effective masses than tetrahedral group IV materials like Si and Ge. In the simplest [[Drude model|Drude picture]] of electronic transport, the maximum obtainable charge carrier velocity is inversely proportional to the effective mass: <math>\scriptstyle \vec{v} \;=\; \left\Vert \mu \right\Vert \cdot \vec{E}</math> where <math>\scriptstyle \left\Vert \mu \right\Vert \;=\; \frac{e \tau}{\left\Vert m^* \right\Vert}</math> with <math>\scriptstyle e</math> being the [[electron|electronic charge]]. The ultimate speed of [[integrated circuit]]s depends on the carrier velocity, so the low effective mass is the fundamental reason that GaAs and its derivatives are used instead of Si in high-[[Bandwidth (signal processing)|bandwidth]] applications like [[cellular telephony]].{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
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| ==Footnotes==
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| {{Reflist|2}}
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| ==References==
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| *{{cite book |author= Pastori Parravicini, G. | title=Electronic States and Optical Transitions in Solids | publisher=Pergamon Press | year=1975 | isbn=0-08-016846-9}} This book contains an exhaustive but accessible discussion of the topic with extensive comparison between calculations and experiment.
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| *S. Pekar, The method of effective electron mass in crystals, Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. '''16''', 933 (1946).
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| ==External links==
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| *[http://www.ioffe.rssi.ru/SVA/NSM/Semicond/ NSM archive]
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| [[Category:Condensed matter physics]]
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| [[Category:Mass]]
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