BLOCH ELECTRON DYNAMICS

Abstract

New equations of motion for a Bloch electron [momentum p = hk, energy epsilon( m(j) d upsilon(j)\d(t) = -e(E + v x B)(j) are proposed, where v = partial derivative epsilon(n)(p)/partial derivative p is the velocity, and {m(j)} are the principal masses m(j)(-1) = partial derivative(epsilon,n)(2)/partial derivative p(j)(2) along the normal and the two principal axes of curvatures at each point of the constant-energy surface represented by epsilon = epsilon(n)(p). Their advantages over the prevalent equations of motion where the left-hand-side is replaced by hk(j) are demonstrated by examining de Haas-van Alphen oscillations arm orientation-dependent cyclotron resonance peaks.