def get_extreme(self, target_prop, maximize=True, min_temp=None,
                    max_temp=None, min_doping=None, max_doping=None,
                    isotropy_tolerance=0.05, use_average=True):

        """
        This method takes in eigenvalues over a range of carriers,
        temperatures, and doping levels, and tells you what is the "best"
        value that can be achieved for the given target_property. Note that
        this method searches the doping dict only, not the full mu dict.

        Args:
            target_prop: target property, i.e. "seebeck", "power factor",
                         "conductivity", "kappa", or "zt"
            maximize: True to maximize, False to minimize (e.g. kappa)
            min_temp: minimum temperature allowed
            max_temp: maximum temperature allowed
            min_doping: minimum doping allowed (e.g., 1E18)
            max_doping: maximum doping allowed (e.g., 1E20)
            isotropy_tolerance: tolerance for isotropic (0.05 = 5%)
            use_average: True for avg of eigenval, False for max eigenval

        Returns:
            A dictionary with keys {"p", "n", "best"} with sub-keys:
            {"value", "temperature", "doping", "isotropic"}

        """

        def is_isotropic(x, isotropy_tolerance):
            """
            Internal method to tell you if 3-vector "x" is isotropic

            Args:
                x: the vector to determine isotropy for
                isotropy_tolerance: tolerance, e.g. 0.05 is 5%
            """
            if len(x) != 3:
                raise ValueError("Invalid input to is_isotropic!")

            st = sorted(x)
            return bool(all([st[0], st[1], st[2]]) and \
                        (abs((st[1] - st[0]) / st[1]) <= isotropy_tolerance) and \
                        (abs((st[2] - st[0])) / st[2] <= isotropy_tolerance) and \
                        (abs((st[2] - st[1]) / st[2]) <= isotropy_tolerance))

        if target_prop.lower() == "seebeck":
            d = self.get_seebeck(output="eigs", doping_levels=True)

        elif target_prop.lower() == "power factor":
            d = self.get_power_factor(output="eigs", doping_levels=True)

        elif target_prop.lower() == "conductivity":
            d = self.get_conductivity(output="eigs", doping_levels=True)

        elif target_prop.lower() == "kappa":
            d = self.get_thermal_conductivity(output="eigs",
                                              doping_levels=True)
        elif target_prop.lower() == "zt":
            d = self.get_zt(output="eigs", doping_levels=True)

        else:
            raise ValueError("Target property: {} not recognized!".
                             format(target_prop))

        absval = True  # take the absolute value of properties

        x_val = None
        x_temp = None
        x_doping = None
        x_isotropic = None
        output = {}

        min_temp = min_temp or 0
        max_temp = max_temp or float('inf')
        min_doping = min_doping or 0
        max_doping = max_doping or float('inf')

        for pn in ('p', 'n'):
            for t in d[pn]:  # temperatures
                if min_temp <= float(t) <= max_temp:
                    for didx, evs in enumerate(d[pn][t]):
                        doping_lvl = self.doping[pn][didx]
                        if min_doping <= doping_lvl <= max_doping:
                            isotropic = is_isotropic(evs, isotropy_tolerance)
                            if absval:
                                evs = [abs(x) for x in evs]
                            if use_average:
                                val = float(sum(evs)) / len(evs)
                            else:
                                val = max(evs)
                            if x_val is None or (val > x_val and maximize) \
                                    or (val < x_val and not maximize):
                                x_val = val
                                x_temp = t
                                x_doping = doping_lvl
                                x_isotropic = isotropic

            output[pn] = {'value': x_val, 'temperature': x_temp,
                          'doping': x_doping, 'isotropic': x_isotropic}
            x_val = None

        if maximize:
            max_type = 'p' if output['p']['value'] >= \
                              output['n']['value'] else 'n'
        else:
            max_type = 'p' if output['p']['value'] <= \
                              output['n']['value'] else 'n'

        output['best'] = output[max_type]
        output['best']['carrier_type'] = max_type

        return output