Polaron Theory

Polaron theory describes how an electron moving through a material interacts with its environment. When an electron travels, it distorts the surrounding lattice of atoms, creating a cloud of vibrations called phonons. This combined entity—electron plus its surrounding lattice distortion—is known as a polaron. The polaron behaves like a particle with greater mass, which affects how easily it moves through the material. This concept helps explain electrical conductivity and charge transport in materials like semiconductors and ionic crystals, where electron-phonon interactions significantly influence electrical properties.