Electronic specific heat and magnetic susceptibility in bismuth thin films under three-dimensional quantization.

Abstract

Three-dimensional quantization of the energy spectrum of electrons or holes can be realized in semimetal bismuth by applying a magnetic field perpendicular to the bismuth thin film. Numerical calculations were made of the energy (of the charge carriers), electronic specific heat, electronic magnetization, and magnetic susceptibility in three-dimensionally quantized bismuth films. The nonparabolic, ellipsoidal electronic band model for bismuth was used and the films were perpendicular to the trigonal axis. The aforementioned thermodynamical quantities were systematically evaluated as functions of temperature, film thickness, and magnetic field intensity.