Editing Electronic band structure (section)

{{Short description|Describes the range of energies of an electron within the solid}}
{{Electronic structure methods}}

In [[solid-state physics]], the '''electronic band structure''' (or simply '''band structure''') of a [[solid]] describes the range of [[energy level]]s that electrons may have within it, as well as the ranges of energy that they may not have (called ''[[band gap]]s'' or ''forbidden bands'').

'''Band theory''' derives these bands and band gaps by examining the allowed quantum mechanical [[wave function]]s for an electron in a large, periodic lattice of atoms or molecules. Band theory has been successfully used to explain many physical properties of solids, such as [[electrical resistivity]] and [[optical absorption]], and forms the foundation of the understanding of all [[Solid-state (electronics)|solid-state devices]] (transistors, solar cells, etc.).
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