Run a MgO properties calculation: Band Structure

In this exercise you will perform calculations of properties by exploiting the wavefunction of an MgO crystal obtained in the previous exercise.


A prerequisite for calculating properties is to analyse a wavefunction, otherwise the properties items are grayed out.

Exercise 1: Run a CRYSTAL properties calculation of the Band Structure of MgO.
Select Calculate -> CRYSTAL -> Properties -> Band Structure.

The CRYSTAL Band Structure panel will open:
 
 
 
 

Select OK and the properties calculation will start as evident from the Job List panel

 
 
 
  When the status of the "CRYSTAL Band structure" job in the panel shows "completed", select the job and then click on Recover Files. The Data Display window will open:
 
 
 
  Select the "Electronic Bands" data set and click on the button Display. The following Band Structure plot will open.
 
 
 
 


Exercise 2: Repeat the previous exercise, and press Valence in the CRYSTAL Band Structure panel.
 
 
 
  Does the Start Band change with respect to the previous exercise? Does the End Band change too? Why? How many electrons are there in a MgO primitive cell? How many valence electrons? How many core electrons? How many are the bands occupied by the core electrons?
  At the end of the calculation, the Band Structure looks like:
 
 
 
  When comparing the two Band structure plots, many changes are evident. The most significant is related to the energy range. What conclusions can be drawn about the valence and the core levels?

In the Data Display, select each band and turn off the option Line visible. Are there degenerate bands?
 
 
 
 


Exercise 3: Calculate the band gap of MgO? In insulators and semiconductors, the band gap is the energy difference between the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band.

Select Calculate -> CRYSTAL -> Properties -> Band Structure.

In the CRYSTAL Band Structure panel, set the Start Band and the End Band equal to 8 and 11, respectively.
 
 
 
  Why the End Band must be equal to 11 in order to compute the bandgap? Is the 11th band occupied or virtual? At the end of the calculation, the Band Structure looks like:
 
 
 
 

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