The general method of obtaining energy bands and wave functions for a face-centered lattice has been outlined. The method has been applied to a copper lattice using a corrected Hartree potential field. The energy bands as a function of the internuclear distance have been calculated. The strong overlapping of the $3d$ band and the $4s$ band is shown. The assignment of electrons to the lowest energy bands leads to a satisfactory explanation of the well-known fact that copper is a good conductor. The various energy bands of the three directions 100, 110 and 111 have been correlated.

• Received 19 July 1935

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.48.664