Formation of a 2-D Electron Gas in a Dense Lithium-Beryllium Alloy (IMAGE)

U.S. National Science Foundation

Formation of a 2-D Electron Gas in a Dense Lithium-Beryllium Alloy

Caption

At standard atmospheric or ambient pressure, the lithium beryllium alloy is unstable. However, at high density and at relatively high pressure, the predicted alloy stabilizes. As the atoms are squeezed in tightly, lithium's ionic cores (the larger of the two) begin to overlap. This creates a sort of "wall" that forces the outer (valence) electrons out of the lithium layer, and over to the beryllium layer. It is there that the electrons form a curious 2-D gas. In contrast, electrons in most metals bounce about quite freely in a 3-D fashion.

Credit

Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation

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