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In addition to the revision notes for De Broglie Wave on this page, you can also access the following Modern Physics learning resources for De Broglie Wave
| Tutorial ID | Title | Tutorial | Video Tutorial | Revision Notes | Revision Questions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.4 | De Broglie Wave |
In these revision notes for De Broglie Wave, we cover the following key points:
Louis De Broglie supported the idea that "moving electrons have a corresponding kind of wave associated, whose wavelength is determined only by the electron momentum." In this way, he postulated the relationship between its wavelength and the impulse of electron, that is
De Broglie relation represents a generalization of the particle-wave dualism.
The electron's wavelength is comparable to wavelengths of X-radiation of EM waves. This is the reason why electronic beams incident on crystals gives diffract visibly and produce patterns similar to those produced by X-rays. In this sense, expressions like "electron has a wave nature" or "electron manifests wave behavior" are very meaningful.
The phenomena of interference and diffraction of electrons are well explained and interpreted through probability pictures, similar to the method used to figure out photons. Given this, we can assert that: "De Broglie wave for electrons (as well as for other matter particles) is a probability wave."
The intensity I of De Broglie wave as well as the square of its amplitude a, represent the probability for the electron to strike a specific point of the screen. In other words, it is not taken for granted that an electron will hit a specific point of the screen; everything is just probability (chance for an event to occur).
Therefore, as a conclusion, we can say:
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