The k_320p method

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I first encountered the k·p method in a semiconductor physics course at Harvard in 1956, taught by my thesis adviser, William Paul. He introduced the k·p Hamiltonian as a semiempirical tool useful for interpreting cyclotron resonance experiments, as noted by Dresselhaus, Kip, and Kittel. This perturbation technique had previously been discussed by Sholey in a 1950 Physical Review article. In 1958, Harvey Brooks, then Dean of the Division of Engineering and Applied Physics, delivered a lecture on the k·p technique's ability to predict and fit non-parabolicities of band extrema in semiconductors. He had recently visited General Electric Labs and discussed Evan Kane's work on non-parabolicity in semiconductors, particularly InSb. I found Dean Brooks's talk compelling as it showcased quantum mechanics applied to real-world issues. During my thesis work, I conducted various optical measurements that required theoretical interpretation, including the dependence of effective masses of semiconductors on temperature and carrier concentration. Despite my limited theoretical skills, with guidance from Paul and Brooks, I learned to utilize the k·p method to interpret my findings effectively.