Energy Band Structure of Copper by the Empirical Pseudopotential Method

The electronic band structure of copper is calculated using the empirical pseudopotential method. A nonlocal $d$-wave potential with a damping factor is used to provide the potential for the $d$ electron. The results agree well with the available experimental data and with theoretical band calculations using other methods. It is anticipated that the empirical pseudopotential method can be used for other noble metals and even extended to noble metal compounds, transition metals, and transition metal compounds.