Brillouin zone

A Brillouin zone is a concept in solid-state physics that describes the way energy levels of electrons are organized in a crystal. It represents a unique region in reciprocal space, which is linked to the arrangement of atoms in the crystal. The zone acts as a 'map' showing how electrons behave in a periodic lattice. Understanding the Brillouin zone helps scientists predict properties like electrical conductivity and optical characteristics in materials, as it reveals how electrons can move and how they interact with the crystal structure.