The role of p‐phase shifts in covalent solids

In this paper we examine the behaviour of the phase shifts of the potentials in a covalent solid when the crystal potential is approximated by a “muffin tin” form. The purpose of this investigation is to try and reconcile the tight binding method with “precision” methods for calculating band structures. We suggest that the role of bound atomic p‐states could be taken over by p‐resonances in the scattering cross sections of the potential wells in a solid.