Ch 3.

Wave properties of particles

11th Week

1905 : particle nature of wave - photoelectric effect (Einstein)

↓ 2 decades
1924 : wave nature of particles - de Broglie's suggestion
1925 : matrix mechanics of Heisenberg
1926 : quantum mechanics of Schrὅdinger (based on duality)
1927 : uncertainty principle - Heisenberg
1927 : experimental evidence - Davisson-Germer experiment

3.1 de Broglie waves (wave nature of moving body)

Photon wavelength in terms of its momentum

    
    ( from      or    )
    
For particles with momentum   ,  : relativistic mass

  → de Broglie wavelength

decreases as the momentum increases
Wave-particle duality of particles
- Which properties of wave or particle are conspicuous depends on
how its de Broglie wavelength compares with the dimension of whatever
it interacts.

ex) (a)  of 46g golf ball with    

   since  ≪ 
  ×  
       ×   
   
 ≪ dim of the ball → can't expect wave aspects
(b)  of electron with    
 ∼ 
  ×  J⋅s
     
  ×   
  ×     
~ radius of hydrogen atom ( ×   )
→ wave nature of electron important in understanding atomic structure
3.2 What is the de Broglie wave?
water, sound, light wave → variation of surface height, pressure, EM field

a body → wavefunction  ≡      

- related to the probability of finding the body.
   prob. density of finding the described body at the point x, y, z
and at the time t. (interpretation due to Max Born, 1926)
(always non-negative, normalizable  ≤   ≤ )

Interpretation of   ; when the body consists of

(a) a single particle:
The particle is not actually spread in space
  gives only probability of chances of finding the particle.
* There exists no 20% of the particle.
(b) many identical particles: (See § 2.4 , photons and 
)
  gives the actual density of particles
For instance, 20% of particles are there.

* Calculation of  will be treated in chapter 5, 6

3.3 Wave Equation (math description of wave)

de Broglie wave velocity of a moving body with velocity 

  
To find , use    and   :

 

  
→   ⋅ 
  
  
→    !
* Actually  corresponds to the "phase" velocity.

Wave equation - a mathematical description of wave

Choose t=0 when  is max at   .

Displacement at    is given as
   cos   
Complete description for the wave should be given as  ≡     .

Suppose the wave propagates in   direction with a speed 

that depends on the property of the string.

→  at  and at any time t


=  at    at the earlier time   


Thus, using the equation for   ,


  
             cos      
 
 
  cos      
  using    

  cos      

where    : angular freq.

 
   : wave number (or    )
 
(number of osc in space per unit length)
3.4 Phase and Group velocity
- The de Broglie wave is a wave group(wave packet), a superposition of many
waves.
- The speed of a wave group can be different from the speed of each
constituent.
* For light,  is equal, so the group velocity is always the same as .

Superposition of waves
e.q. beats : 440 Hz + 442Hz sound
→ 441 Hz sound with two loudness peaks per second.

Suppose two waves of the same amplitude with slightly different  and k.
   cos    

   cos          
    

     
  cos      cos 
 
  
   
 
using cos   cos   cos  cos 
 

From     ∼ 
   ∼ 





   cos     cos     
 
 a slow modulation of the amplitude
 
phase velocity   


group velocity   


Velocities of de Broglie wave

For a body of  and .

 
      
  
   
 
  
       
  
   
 
de Broglie phase velocity
 
     : no physical meaning
 

de Broglie group velocity

 
   
  /


   
   
,    
 

   
   
   
 

: the same as the body's moving velocity
3.5 Particle Diffraction (wave nature of particles)
- Davisson & Germer, Thomson (1927)

electron energy, incident angle,

position of detector can be varied.

Observations:
- almost uniform continuous distribution of scattering angle
with a moderate dependence of the intensity on scattering angle and
even less dependence of intensity on electron energy probed.
→ Can be explained with classical physics

With a well-crystalized nickel surface (well-baked in an accident, in fact)

- Scattering angles of distinct max & min of intensity are observed!
- Also energy dependence.
Question 1. What's this new effect?
2. Why not with the original sample?

→ de Broglie waves and diffraction of electrons are responsible.

- family of Bragg planes

Bragg scattering of electrons

Using     sin  ; equation for Bragg scattering
    (from x-ray diffraction)
  
    o

   (primary constructive interference)

→     sin    

Using de Broglie's formula,


  

,  ∼    


  

※ Not only electrons can be diffracted, but also fast neutrons and even atoms.

Application to the Electron Microscope(EM) (1932)

Optical Microscope : resolution : ~ 200 nm
 magnification : 500 x
Electron Microscope :
 resolution : 0.1 nm
  x
magnification :
Resolution is determined from  of the probe.

Bacteriophage viruses invading E. coli