De Broglie Waves: Are Electrons Waves or Particles? Chapter uri icon

abstract

  • In 1924, de Broglie postulated that particles can behave like waves, thus complementing the observation by Einstein in 1905 that light can behave like particles. This waveparticle duality aspect for both particles and waves had a deep impact on the subsequent development of quantum mechanics. Some highly counterintuitive results, like the Heisenberg uncertainty relation and the BoseEinstein condensation, that were motivated by waveparticle duality are discussed in this chapter. Following de Broglies hypothesis, a wave packet description for a particle is described. An analysis of the Heisenberg microscope is presented, thus motivating the Heisenberg uncertainty relation. The DavissonGermer experiment that showed that electrons can behave like waves and the Compton effect that provided early conclusive evidence that light can behave like particles are also discussed.

altmetric score

  • 1

author list (cited authors)

  • Zubairy, M. S.

citation count

  • 0

complete list of authors

  • Zubairy, M Suhail

Book Title

  • Quantum Mechanics for Beginners

publication date

  • May 2020