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Bandstructure of GaAs

Now that we have calculated the bandstructure of silicon (semiconductor) and aluminum (metal), let us proceed with a compound which has two different atoms. We follow the steps like before:

First check the lattice constant with cell relaxation according to our chosen pseudo potential. We use that lattice constant in our next steps. Our lattice constant = 10.6867 * 0.508176602 / 0.5 = 10.861462.

pw.x < pw.relax.GaAs.in > pw.relax.GaAs.out

Perform self consistent field calculation:

pw.x < pw.scf.GaAs.in > pw.scf.GaAs.out

Give denser k-points and perform non-self consistent calculation. This step is only necessary if you need to obtain density of states.

pw.x < pw.nscf.GaAs.in > pw.nscf.GaAs.out

Perform bands calculation

pw.x < pw.bands.GaAs.in > pw.bands.GaAs.out

Post process the data and plot the bandstructure.

bands.x < pp.bands.GaAs.in > pp.bands.GaAs.out

If everything goes well, you will get the bandstructure as below:

GaAs-bands
Warning

Sometimes a calculation with the same inputs converges in one computer, while fails in another due to library configuration or even due to floating point approximations. The final output numbers will always vary slightly for different machines, or even among different runs in the same machine. Also check the Quantum Espresso version for reproducibility.

Also see the bandstructure of GaAs with SOC.