SP3S* + Spin-Orbit Model

Basis

20-band model that doubles the SP3S* basis with explicit spin:

Index 1-10Spin-upIndex 11-20Spin-down
$s, p_x, p_y, p_z, s^*$ (anion)$\uparrow$$s, p_x, p_y, p_z, s^*$ (anion)$\downarrow$
$s, p_x, p_y, p_z, s^*$ (cation)$\uparrow$$s, p_x, p_y, p_z, s^*$ (cation)$\downarrow$

Spin-Orbit Coupling

Spin-orbit interaction is added as an on-site coupling between p orbitals of different spin. The spin-orbit splitting parameter Δ controls the strength of the coupling.

Available Parameter Sources

SourceMaterials
Vogl1983Si, Ge, C, Sn, SiC, GaAs, GaP, GaSb, AlAs, AlP, AlSb, InAs, InP, InSb, ZnSe, ZnTe
Klimeck2000GaAs, GaP, GaSb, AlAs, AlP, AlSb, InAs, InP, InSb

When to Use

Required for materials with significant spin-orbit splitting, such as InSb, GaSb, and other heavy-element semiconductors where the split-off band energy is important.

Reference

  • G. Klimeck, R.C. Bowen, T.B. Boykin, T.A. Cwik, "sp3s* tight-binding parameters for transport simulations in compound semiconductors," Superlattices and Microstructures 27, 519 (2000). DOI:10.1006/spmi.2000.0862