# 29.6 The wave nature of matter

 Page 1 / 4
• Describe the Davisson-Germer experiment, and explain how it provides evidence for the wave nature of electrons.

## De broglie wavelength

In 1923 a French physics graduate student named Prince Louis-Victor de Broglie (1892–1987) made a radical proposal based on the hope that nature is symmetric. If EM radiation has both particle and wave properties, then nature would be symmetric if matter also had both particle and wave properties. If what we once thought of as an unequivocal wave (EM radiation) is also a particle, then what we think of as an unequivocal particle (matter) may also be a wave. De Broglie’s suggestion, made as part of his doctoral thesis, was so radical that it was greeted with some skepticism. A copy of his thesis was sent to Einstein, who said it was not only probably correct, but that it might be of fundamental importance. With the support of Einstein and a few other prominent physicists, de Broglie was awarded his doctorate.

De Broglie took both relativity and quantum mechanics into account to develop the proposal that all particles have a wavelength , given by

$\lambda =\frac{h}{p}\left(matter and photons\right),$

where $h$ is Planck’s constant and $p$ is momentum. This is defined to be the de Broglie wavelength    . (Note that we already have this for photons, from the equation $p=h/\lambda$ .) The hallmark of a wave is interference. If matter is a wave, then it must exhibit constructive and destructive interference. Why isn’t this ordinarily observed? The answer is that in order to see significant interference effects, a wave must interact with an object about the same size as its wavelength. Since $h$ is very small, $\lambda$ is also small, especially for macroscopic objects. A 3-kg bowling ball moving at 10 m/s, for example, has

$\lambda =h/p=\left(6\text{.}\text{63}×{\text{10}}^{\text{–34}}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{J·s}\right)/\left[\left(\text{3 kg}\right)\left(\text{10 m/s}\right)\right]=2×{\text{10}}^{\text{–35}}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{m.}$
This means that to see its wave characteristics, the bowling ball would have to interact with something about ${\text{10}}^{\text{–35}}\phantom{\rule{0.25em}{0ex}}\text{m}$ in size—far smaller than anything known. When waves interact with objects much larger than their wavelength, they show negligible interference effects and move in straight lines (such as light rays in geometric optics). To get easily observed interference effects from particles of matter, the longest wavelength and hence smallest mass possible would be useful. Therefore, this effect was first observed with electrons.

American physicists Clinton J. Davisson and Lester H. Germer in 1925 and, independently, British physicist G. P. Thomson (son of J. J. Thomson, discoverer of the electron) in 1926 scattered electrons from crystals and found diffraction patterns. These patterns are exactly consistent with interference of electrons having the de Broglie wavelength and are somewhat analogous to light interacting with a diffraction grating. (See [link] .)

## Connections: waves

All microscopic particles, whether massless, like photons, or having mass, like electrons, have wave properties. The relationship between momentum and wavelength is fundamental for all particles.

De Broglie’s proposal of a wave nature for all particles initiated a remarkably productive era in which the foundations for quantum mechanics were laid. In 1926, the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger (1887–1961) published four papers in which the wave nature of particles was treated explicitly with wave equations. At the same time, many others began important work. Among them was German physicist Werner Heisenberg (1901–1976) who, among many other contributions to quantum mechanics, formulated a mathematical treatment of the wave nature of matter that used matrices rather than wave equations. We will deal with some specifics in later sections, but it is worth noting that de Broglie’s work was a watershed for the development of quantum mechanics. De Broglie was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1929 for his vision, as were Davisson and G. P. Thomson in 1937 for their experimental verification of de Broglie’s hypothesis.

Describe an experiment to determine short half life
what is science
A 20MH coil has a resistance of 50 ohms and us connected in series with a capacitor to a 520MV supply
what is physics
it is the science which we used in our daily life
Sujitha
Physics is the branch of science that deals with the study of matter and the interactions it undergoes with energy
Junior
it is branch of science which deals with study of happening in the human life
AMIT
it is when you get up of your arse and do some real work 😁
A 20MH coil has a resistance of 50 ohms and is connected in series with a capacitor to a 250MV supply if the circuit is to resonate at 100KHZ, Determine 1: the capacitance of the capacitor 2: the working voltage of the circuit, given that pie =3.142
Musa
Heat is transfered by thermal contact but if it is transfered by conduction or radiation, is it possible to reach in thermal equilibrium?
Yes, It is possible by conduction if Surface is Adiabatic
Astronomy
what are the fundamentals qualities
what is physic3
Kalilu
what is physic
Kalilu
Physics? Is a branch of science dealing with matter in relation to energy.
Moses
Physic... Is a purging medicine, which stimulates evacuation of the bowels.
Moses
are you asking for qualities or quantities?
Noman
give examples of three dimensional frame of reference
your fat arse sitting all day is a good reference of three dimensional numbnut
Universe
Noman
Yes the Universe itself
Astronomy
Examine different types of shoes, including sports shoes and thongs. In terms of physics, why are the bottom surfaces designed as they are? What differences will dry and wet conditions make for these surfaces?
sports shoes are designed in such a way they are gripped well with your feet and their bases have and high friction surfaces, Thong shoes are for comfort, these are easily removed and light weight. these are usually low friction surfaces but in wet conditions they offer greater friction.
Noman
thong sleepers are usually used in restrooms.
Noman
what is wave
The phenomenon of transfer of energy
Noman
how does time flow in one dimension
you mean in three dimensions......numbnut
yeah that was a mistake
Lord
if it flows in three dimensions does it mean if an object theoretically moves beyond the speed of light it won't experience time
Lord
time seems to flow in one direction...but I the past present and future happen every moment time flies regardless.
but if an object moves beyond the speed of light time stops right for it
Lord
yes but at light speed it ceases
Lord
yes it always flow from past to future.
Noman
if v=ktx Ly Mz find the value of x,y and z
x=v=ktx Ly Mz find the value of x,y and z
y=v=ktx Ly Mz find the value of x,y and z
z=v=ktx Ly Mz find the value of x,y and z
now get your lazy arse up and clean the kitchen 😁
I want to join the conversation
😂
hmm
Stephen
what conversation you talking about? .....numbnut
how do i calculate for period of the oscillation
T=2π√(m÷k).K is spring constance
Ambe
T=2π√m/k
Lord
does the force in a system result in the energy transfer?
full meaning of GPS system
global positioning system
Noman
what's the use of the GPS
Matthew