Abstract:
Three-dimensional periodic Schrödinger operators with potentials that
are square integrable on the unit cell (single-electron model of a crystal) are considered. A description is given of the class of rational curves that do not have more than a finite number of common points with any isoenergy surface (in particular, the Fermi surface)
of an arbitrary operator of the considered form. A consequence of a theorem proved in the paper is the absence on the isoenergy surfaces of elements of planes, cones, and cylinders with straight generators, and all possible paraboloids and hyperboloids. Another
interesting consequence is the following assertion: The topological
dimension of an isoenergy manifold does not exceed two, which
justifies the use of the word “surface”. The results generalize
the assertion of Thomas's theorem on the absence on isoenergy
surfaces of straight edges.