Bloch waves

Bloch waves describe how electrons move through a periodic structure, like a crystal lattice. Imagine a wave that repeats its pattern as it travels, shaped by the repeating arrangement of atoms. This repeating pattern causes the electron’s wave to have specific allowed energies, forming energy bands. These Bloch waves help explain why materials are conductors, insulators, or semiconductors, as they determine how easily electrons can flow through the material's orderly structure. Essentially, Bloch waves capture the interaction between electrons and the regular atomic pattern, shaping the electrical properties of solid materials.