The Hubbard model is based on the tight-binding approximation from solid-state physics, which describes particles moving in a periodic potential, typically referred to as a lattice. For real materials, each lattice site might correspond with an ionic core, and the particles would be the valence electrons of these ions. In the tight-binding approximation, the Hamiltonian is written in terms of Wannier states, which are localized states centered on each lattice site. Wannier states on neighboring lattice sites are coupled, allowing particles on one site to "hop" to another. Mathematically, the strength of this coupling is given by a "hopping integral", or "transfer integral", between nearby sites. The system is said to be in the tight-binding limit when the strength of the hopping integrals falls off rapidly with distance. This coupling allows states associated with each lattice site to hybridize, and the eigenstates of such a crystalline system are Bloch's functions, with the energy levels divided into separated energy bands. The width of the bands depends upon the value of the hopping integral.