Concepts for Modeling Electrons in Solids: A Perspective

Abstract

It’s clear that an understanding of the behavior of electrons in solids is essential for explaining and predicting solid state properties. Electrons provide the glue holding solids together, and hence they are central in determining structural, mechanical and vibrational properties. Under the influence of electromagnetic fields, electrical current transport involves electron transport for most solids. Optical properties for many ranges of frequency are dominated by electronic transitions. Understanding superconductivity, magnetism, dielectric properties, ferroelectricity, and most properties of solids requires a detailed knowledge of “electronic structure” which is the term associated with the study of electronic energy levels, but more broadly a general label for the subfield of condensed matter physics which is focused on the properties of electrons in solids.