On the Thermodynamics of a Two-Dimensional Electron Gas with Non-Parabolic Dispersion

Abstract

A thermodynamic density of states, electron density in the subband and the entropy of the gas as function of the temperature and the total two-dimensional electron density are studied. Semiconductor conduction band dispersion is described by the simplified Kane model. Numerical simulation shows that with an increase in the total electron concentration, thermodynamic density of states at low temperatures changes abruptly and smoothes jumps at high temperatures. This change manifests itself in the peculiar thermodynamic characteristics. The results are used to interpret existing experimental data.