Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

3.1 Matter wave: de Broglie

the total energy of matter related to the frequency of the wave is

E=h

the momentum of matter related to the wavelength of the wave is

p=h/

Ex: (a) the de Broglie wavelength of a baseball moving at a

speed v=10m/s, and m=1kg. (b) for a electron K=100 eV.
(a) h / p 6.6 10

34

/(1 10) 6.6 10

35

m 6.6 10

25

(b) h / p h / 2m K
6.6 10

34

/ 2 9.1 10

(electron) (baseball)

31

100 1.6 10

19

1.2 A

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

The experiment of Davisson and Germer

(1) A strong scattered electron beam is detected at =50o for V=54 V.

(2) The result can be explained as a constructive interference of waves
scattered by the periodic arrangement of the atoms into planes of the
crystal.
(3) The phenomenon is analogous to the Bragg-reflections (Laue pattern).
1927, G. P. Thomson showed the diffraction of electron beams passing through

thin films confirmed the de Broglie relation =h/p. (Debye-Scherrer method)

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

Bragg reflection:
constructive interference:
2d sin n
o

d 0.91 A , 50o and 90o / 2 65o

for n 1
o

2d sin 2 0.91 sin 65 1.65 A

o

(X - ray wavelength)
for electron K 54 eV

consistent

h / 2m K
6.6 10

34

/ 2 9.1 10

(electron wavelength)

31

54 1.6 10

19

1.65 A

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

Debye-Scherrer diffraction

X-ray diffraction:
zirconium oxide crystal

electron diffraction :
gold crystal
Laue pattern of X-ray (top) and
neutron (bottom) diffraction for
sodium choride crystal

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

3.2 The wave-particle duality
Bohrs principle of complementarity: The wave and particle models are
complementary; if a measurement proves the wave character of matter, then it
is impossible to prove the particle character in the same measurement, and
conversely
Einsteins interpretation: for radiation (photon) intensity

I (1 / 0 c ) 2 hN 2 N

2 is a probability measure of photon density

Max Born: wave function of matter is ( x , t ) just as satisfies wave equation

2 is a measure of the probability of finding a particle in unit volume at a

given place and time. Two superposed matter waves obey a principle of
superposition of radiation.

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

3.3 The uncertainty principle

Heisenberg uncertainty principle: Experiment

cannot simultaneously determine the exact value of
momentum and its corresponding coordinate.
p x x / 2
E t / 2

Bohrs thought experiment:

(1) p x 2 p sin ' ( 2h / ) sin '
x / sin ' ( a diffraction apparatus a / )
p x x ( 2h / ) sin ' / sin ' 2h / 2
(2) E p x2 / 2m E 2 p x p x / 2m v x p x
x v x t v x x / t E ( x / t )p x
E t p x x 2 h / 2

Bohrs thought experiment

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

3.4 Properties of matter wave
wave propagation velocity:

h
E
E mv 2 / 2 v
w ( ) ( )

p
h
p
mv
2

w v Why?

a de Broglie wave of a particle

( x , t ) sin 2 ( x / t ) set 1/
( x , t ) sin 2 (x t )
(1) x fixed, at any time t the amplitude is one, frequency is .

(2) t fixed, (x,t) is a sine function of x.

(3) zeros of the function are at 2 (xn t ) n

n 0,1,2,.......

xn n / 2 t xn n / 2 ( / )t
these nodes move along x axis with a velocity w dxn / dt /
it is the node propagation velocity (the oscillation velocity)

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

modulate the amplitude of the waves

( x , t ) 1 ( x , t ) 2 ( x , t )
1 ( x , t ) sin 2 (x t ), 2 ( x , t ) sin 2 [( d ) x ( d )t ]
d
d
( 2 d )
( 2 d )
x
t ] sin 2 [
x
t]
2
2
2
2
d
d
for d 2 and d 2 ( x , t ) 2 cos[
x
t ] sin 2 (x t )
2
2
(1) the velocity of the individual wave is w /
( x , t ) 2 cos[

(2) the group velocity of the wave is g

d / 2
d

d / 2
d

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

group velocity of waves equal to moving velocity of particles

E
dE
1
p
dp
d
d
h
h
h
h
d
dE / h dE
g

d
dp / h
dp
1
dE
E m v2
p m v dE m vdv
v
2
dp
gv

The Fourier integral can prove the following universal properties

of all wave. x 1 / 4 for 1/ , and t 1 / 4

for matter wave : p h / 1 / p / h

x x ( p / h) (1 / h)xp 1 / 4
px / 2

uncertainty principle
E h E / h t ( E / h) (1 / h)tE
uncertainty principle
Et / 2

the consequence
of duality

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

Ex: An atom can radiate at any time after it is excited. It is found that in a
typical case the average excited atom has a life-time of about 10-8 sec. That
is, during this period it emit a photon and is deexcited. (a) What is the
minimum uncertainty in the frequency of the photon?o (b) Most photons from
sodium atoms are in two spectral lines at about 5890 A . What is the fractional
width of either line, / ? (c) Calculate the uncertainty E in the energy of the
excited state of the atom. (d) From the previous results determine, to within an
accuracy E , the energy E of the excited state of a sodium atom, relative to its o
lowest energy state, that emits a photon whose wavelength is centered at 5890 A
(a) t 1 / 4 1 / 4t 8 106 sec-1
(b) c / 3 1010 / 5890 10 8 5.1 1014 sec-1
/ 8 106 / 5.1 1014 1.6 10 8 natural width of the spectral line
h / 4
h
6.63 10 34
8
(c) E

3
.
3

10
eV the width of the state
8
t
4t
4 10
(d) / h/h E / E E E /( / ) 2.1 eV

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

uncertainty principle in a single-slit diffraction
for a electron beam:
sin

py
p

sin

p y p y p sin
p y y

p
y

y h
y
2

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

Ex: Consider a microscopic particle moving freely along the x axis. Assume
that at the instant t=0 the position of the particle is measured and is uncertain
by the amount x 0 . Calculate the uncertainty in the measured position of the
particle at some later time t.
At t 0 p x / 2x0
v x p x / m / 2 m x 0
At time t x tv x t / 2m x0
x0 x or t x

Chapter 3 de Broglies postulate: wavelike properties of particles

Some consequences of the uncertainty principle:

(1) Wave and particle is made to display either face at will but not both

simultaneously.
Diracs
relativistic
of electron:
E ofc 2radiation;
p 2 m02c 4
(2) We can
observequantum
either themechanics
wave or the
particle behavior

but assumption:
the uncertainty
principle
prevents
from
observing
Diracs
a vacuum
consists
of aus
sea
of electrons
inboth together.
(3) Uncertainty
principle
makes
predictions
onlyatofallprobable
negative
energy levels
which
are normally
filled
points inbehavior
space. of
the particles.

The philosophy of quantum theory:

(1) Neil Bohr: Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics.

(2) Heisenberg: Principally, we cannot know the present in all details.
(3) Albert Einstein: God does not play dice with the universe
The belief in an external world independent of the perceiving subject is
the basis of all natural science.