Wave-Particle Duality

Lecture-3
 Dual Nature of Matter (Wave-Particle
Duality)

According to Louis de Broglie (in 1923), the matter has dual nature.
All the matter particles like electron and neutron have an associated wave with
them (Matter waves or de Broglie waves).
Matter wave can behave both as a wave-like and as a particle-like
characteristics (but they will exhibit only one property at a time).
 de Broglie Wavelength
• The de Broglie equation relates a moving particle’s wavelength with its
momentum

• The de Broglie wavelength is the wavelength (λ), associated with a moving

particle and is related to its momentum (p = mv), through the Planck’s constant
(h)

 All matter exhibits properties of both

particles and waves

 This is true only if the particle is very

light like an electron
 Expression for de-Broglie Wavelength
Energy of a particle (Einstein’s theory)

2 𝑚 −mass of particle 𝐸 = ℎ𝜈
𝐸= 𝑚𝑐 𝑐 −velocity of light ℎ −plank’s constant
𝟐 𝜈 −Frequency of radiation
𝒎𝒄 = 𝒉𝝂
𝒎𝒄. 𝒄 = 𝒉𝝂 𝒉
𝒎𝒄 = 𝝂 𝟏
𝒉𝝂 𝝀 𝒄 = 𝝂𝝀 → =
𝒎𝒄 = 𝒉 𝒄 𝝀
𝒑=
𝒄 𝝀

𝒉 𝒉
𝝀= =
𝒑 𝒎𝒗
 de-Broglie Wavelength in terms of Energy (E) &
Voltage (V)
Energy acquired by the electron
Kinetic Energy of a moving ‘eV’ is
particle is 𝟏 equal to the kinetic energy ‘ ½
𝑬 = 𝒎𝒗𝟐
𝟐 mv2 ’
𝟏
𝑬= 𝒎𝟐 𝒗 𝟐 𝟏
𝟐𝒎
𝑬 = 𝒎𝒗𝟐 = 𝒆𝑽
𝟐
𝒑𝟐 𝒉 𝒉 𝒉
𝑬=
𝟐𝒎 𝝀= = =
𝒑 𝟐𝒎𝑬 𝟐𝒎𝒆𝑽
𝒑𝟐 = 𝟐𝒎𝑬 → 𝒑 = 𝟐𝒎𝑬
𝒉 𝒉
𝝀= =
𝒑 𝟐𝒎𝑬
De Broglie wavelength associated with particles in thermal
equilibrium
If particles are in thermal equilibrium at temperature T,
then their kinetic energy is given by

𝟑
𝐊. 𝐄 = 𝒌𝑻
𝟐

𝒉 𝒉 𝒉 𝒉
𝝀= = = =
𝒑 𝟐𝒎(𝑲.𝑬) 𝟑 𝟑𝒎𝒌𝑻
𝟐𝒎 𝒌𝑻
𝟐
 Example: The de Broglie wavelength of an electron and a Baseball
Determine the de Broglie wavelength of (a) an electron moving at a speed of 6 X 106 m/s and
(b) a base ball (mass = 0.15 kg) moving at a speed of 13 m/s
For an Electron

For Base Ball

 The de Broglie wavelength λ for macroscopic particles are negligibly small

This effect is extremely important for light particles, like electrons.
 Dual Nature of Matter (Wave-Particle
Duality)
Wave-Particle duality holds that light and matter
exhibit properties of both waves and particles
Photoelectric Effect proves the particle nature of
light
Davisson-Germer experiment showed the wave
nature of matter (diffraction of electrons)
Davisson-Germer
Experiment
 Wave-Particle Duality: Light
Does light consist of particles or waves? When one focuses upon the different types of phenomena observed with
light, a strong case can be built for a wave picture:
Can be explained Can be explained
Phenomenon
in terms of waves. in terms of particles.

Most commonly observed phenomena with light can be explained by waves. But the photoelectric effect and
the Compton scatering suggested a particle nature for light. Then electrons too were found to exhibit dual
natures.
 Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
classical mechanics, we can know the future if we know the present

quantum mechanics We cannot know the future because we cannot know the present

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states

“It is impossible to specify precisely and simultaneously certain pairs of physical quantities like position and
momentum that describe the behavior of an atomic system”.
Quantitatively
“in any simultaneous measurement the product of the magnitudes of the uncertainties of the pairs of physical
quantities is equal to or greater than h/4π “

Δp  Δx ≥ h/4π ΔE  Δt ≥ h/4π ΔJ  Δθ ≥ h/4π

Δp uncertainty in momentum ΔE uncertainty in Energy ΔJ uncertainty in angular momentum
Δx uncertainty in position Δt uncertainty in time Δ uncertainty in Angular displacement

‘h' Planck’s constant = 6.64x10-34 Js

The uncertainty principle is inherent in the properties the quantum systems owing to their wave-particle duality.
 Application of Uncertainty Principle

• Using uncertainty Principle, non-existence of electrons in the nucleus can be proved.

• Existence of protons, neutron and α-particles in the nucleus is confirmed by the

uncertainty principle.

• Binding energy of an electron in an atom can be calculated from this uncertainty

principle.

• Emission of radiation of light from an excited atom is also confirmed by this principle.
 Uncertainty principle in macro and micro world
Cricket ball
• A bowler throws a 0.16-kg cricket ball at 40 m/s
• Ball’s momentum is 0.16 x 40 = 6.4 kg m/s
• Suppose the momentum is measured to an accuracy of 1 % , i.e.,
p = 0.01 p = 6.4 x 10-2 kg m/s
h
• The uncertainty in position is then x   0.8x1033
4p

• Electron
• Same situation, but an electron in place of cricket ball, with mass 9.11 x 10-31 kg
• So momentum = 3.6 x 10-29 kg m/s and at 1% accuracy its uncertainty
p = 3.6 x 10-31 kg m/s
h
• The uncertainty in electrons position is x   1.4 x10 4 m
4p

Hence in our daily life Uncertainty Principle is not very evident

 Application of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle

Nonexistence of electrons in the atomic nucleus

 h 
From Heisenberg’s Uncertainty principle, px .x    ..............(5)
 4 
Diameter of the nucleus 10-14m.
For an electron to exist inside the nucleus, the maximum uncertainty in its position
(∆x) must not exceed the size of the nucleus i.e,. ∆x ≤ 10-14m.

h
Px 
Therefore, minimum Uncertainty in 4 x
momentum is, 6.625 x 10-34
Px 
4  3.14 10 14
Px  0.5275 10 20 kgms 1

The momentum of the electron must at least be equal to the uncertainty in the
momentum.
Px  0.5275 x 1020 kgms 1
 Application of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle

Nonexistence of electrons in the atomic nucleus

The minimum energy of the electron in the nucleus is then

given by
Emin = pmin c = (5.2 × 10-21 kg-m/s)(3 × 108 m/s) = 1.56 × 10-12 J = 9.7
MeV
It implies that if an electron exists within the nucleus, it must have a minimum energy
of about 10 MeV. But the experimental measurements showed that the maximum
kinetic energies of β-particles were of the order of 4 MeV only. Hence electrons are not
present in the nucleus.
2. Broadening of spectral lines - Absorption and emission of radiation
E2 E2
=0
= E2-E1 = E2-E1

E1 E1
Absorption Excitation Emission

E2 =FWHM
E2


= E2-E1 = E2-E1

E1 E1
Absorption Excitation Emission
 The energy of the emitted photon is given by hc
E  h  .................(1)


On differentiating equation (1) with hc hc

respect to λ     E  .................(2)
2  2

From Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, uncertainty in the energy of the emitted photon corresponding to
finite lifetime Δt of the excited state is
h
 
4t
hc h
Substituting for ΔE and applying the condition of minimum uncertainty, we get 
 2
4t
2
  for a finite lifetime of the excited state, the emitted photon wavelength
4 ct will have a spread of wavelengths around the mean value λ.

For narrow  ,the lifetime of the excited state must be very high (of the order of 10-3s) known as Metastable
states.
This concept is adopted in the production of laser light.
Numerical on de Broglie’s hypothesis
 𝒉 𝒉 𝒉 𝒉
𝝀= = = =
𝒑 𝟐𝒎(𝑲. 𝑬) 𝟑 𝟑𝒎𝒌𝑻
𝟐𝒎 𝒌𝑻
𝟐