FAQs

1. How do I define the degeneracy of a defect’s charge state (DefectChargeState)?

The degeneracy of a defect charge state is the number of energetically equivalent arrangements of defect X in charge state q.

Consider the following case where we have a trigonally coordinated cation with an oxidation state of +1 somewhere in our structure. If that cation forms a neutral vacancy V and the hole associated with the defect is localised, it might localise on any of the three near-neighbour anions. It could be spin up or spin down, so we have 6 unique ways this defect could localise.

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If, however, the hole is delocalised, the degeneracy will be two, as the delocalised density can be spin up, or spin down.