Phase Velocity

and
Group Velocity
Phase velocity
From de Broglie hypothesis we know that when a particle moves in a medium, a wave is also associated
with it.

The velocity of advancement of monochromatic wave (i.e. a wave of single frequency and
wavelength ) in a medium ls called as phase velocity.

Expression of Phase Velocity:

Let the harmonic wave moving along the +ve x direction be given as

y(x,t)=Asin (ωt-kx) , where A is the amplitude and (ωt-kx) represent the phase part.

When phase is constant

So, the phase velocity is

So phase velocity can also be given as the ratio of angular frequency to propagation constant

It can be shown that the phase velocity is not equal to particle velocity. (Different either greater/ smaller
than particle velocity). So it is proposed that a instead of a single wave a wave packet moves
along with the moving particle. .

A wave packet is formed when a large no of harmonic waves having different amplitudes, frequencies
and wavelengths superpose such that the resulting wave-function vanishes everywhere except a
finite region of space. In this small region the particle can be located. Outside this region the waves
interfere destructively , so that the amplitude reduces to zero.
Group Velocity
The velocity with which the wave packet or group of waves associated with the moving particle travels is
called group velocity.

Expression of group velocity:

Let us consider a wave packet , which is consisting of two waves of same amplitude and slightly
different angular frequencies. The two waves are represented as and

where a is the amplitude of both the waves. ω1 and ω2 are angular frequencies and k 1 and k2 are
propagation constants of both the waves respectively.
From superposition principle, the resultant displacement can be given as

Because you know that

If ω1 and ω2 are nearly equal then and

So the above equation reduces to

which represents the resultant is a wave of angular frequency ω and propagation constant k. The
amplitude of the resultant wave is modified and is given as

Or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlM9vq-bepA

It represents the envelope of the wave packets. This envelope travels with group velocity

Similarly if a large no of harmonic waves of continuously varying wavelengths and frequencies

superpose to form wave packet, the group velocity is
Relation between phase velocity( Vp ) group velocity(Vg )

You know that phase velocity is

Therefore
Differentiating both sides w.r.t k, we get
Again we know that so,

Therefore for a dispersive medium

In a non-dispersive medium, as velocity is independent of variation of

wavelength so Hence i.e. the group velocity is equal to
phase velocity.
How group velocity is related to particle velocity
The group velocity is given as

For a non relativistic particle:

So ,

Hence the group velocity = particle velocity.

For relativistic particle:

So,

Hence the group velocity = particle velocity

Therefore group velocity is always equal to particle velocity

Thank you