Electronic structure of simple metal whiskers

Abstract

The electronic structure of thread-like cylindrical crystals (whiskers) of simple metals has been calculated within the framework of density-functional theory and the jellium model. As the whisker's radius increases, oscillations of the work function and the bandwidth are observed. They are connected with the filling of energy bands and the relation between the filling of energy bands and the shape of the electronic density and one-particle potentials is shown. The effect of dielectric surroundings on the electronic structure of metal whiskers has been studied.