is a phenomenon where under certain circumstances a particle exhibits wave properties and under other conditions a wave exhibits

properties of a particle.

UNIT 26: WAVE PROPERTIES of PARTICLE

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26.1 de Broglie wavelength



From the Plancks quantum theory, the energy of a photon is given by

E ! hf
hc E! P


and

c f ! P

(26.1a)

From the Einsteins Special Theory of Relativity, the energy of a photon is given by 2 and

E ! mc

mc ! p
(26.1b)

E ! pc


By equating eq. (26.1a) and (26.1b), hence

hc pc ! P

h p! P

particle aspect (26.1c) wave aspect

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From the eq. (26.1c), thus light has momentum and exhibits particle properties. This also show light is dualistic in nature, behaving is some situations like waves and in others like particles (photons).  Table 26.1a shows the experiment evidences to show wave particle duality of light.


Table 26.1a

Wave Youngs double slit experiment Diffraction experiment

Particle Photoelectric effect Compton effect

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Based on wave particle duality of light, Louis de Broglie suggested that matter such as electron and proton might also have a dual nature. He proposed that any particle of momentum p should have a wavelength P (now called the de Broglie wavelength) wavelength given by

h h P! ! p mv
where

(26.1d)

de Broglie relation

h : Planck constant m : mass of a particle

v : velocity of a particle

6.63 v 10 34 J s

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This wave properties of matter is called de Broglie waves or matter waves waves.  The de Broglie relation was confirmed in 1927 when Davisson and Germer succeeded in diffracting electron which shows that electrons have wave properties. properties


Example 1 : In a photoelectric effect experiment, a light source of wavelength 500 nm is incident on a potassium surface. Find the momentum and energy of a photon used.


(Given the speed of photon in the vacuum, c = 3.00 x 108 m s-1 and Planck constant, h = 6.63 x 10-34 J s)
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Ans : p = 1.21 x 10-27 kg m /s E = 3.62 x 10-19 J

SF027 6 1 2 34 5 6 78

Example 2 : Calculate the de Broglie wavelength for a. a car of mass 2.00 x 103 kg moving at 50.0 m s-1. b. an electron of mass 9.11 x 10-31 kg moving at 1.00 x 108 m s-1. (Given Planck constant, h = 6.63 x 10-34 J s) 6.63 v 10 39 m

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Ans : (a ) ( b)
SF027

= 2.1 x 10-36 m = 2.24 x 10-9 m

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