energy gap

noun

1. physics the difference of energy between the bottom of the conduction band and the top of the valence band of the electrons in a crystalline solid. For values below about 2eV the substance is considered to be a semiconductor whilst for higher values it is considered to be an insulator

Example Sentences

Instead of heeding a memo from one of his pollsters urging him to focus on lowering the demand for oil, he put most of his effort into trying to make up the post–oil shock energy gap.

From Slate

"This allowed us to measure an unexpected energy gap -- the hallmark of an insulator."

From Science Daily

The authors' suspicion that the experimentally measured energy gap was a signature of a Mott insulating phase was confirmed by comparing experimental results with dynamical mean-field theory calculations.

From Science Daily

The authors were able to observe this metallic phase from a vanishing of the measured energy gap when they removed some electrons from the MOF.

From Science Daily

But after years of trying, scientists couldn’t get the material to cooperate: The Majorana’s protective energy gap was too small, and applying electrical gates to wrangle the quasiparticles into any useful dance was too challenging.

From Science Magazine