In single-particle quantum mechanics there is no impediment to a particle's wave function having a significant amplitude for arbitrarily short wavelengths, i.e., for arbitrarily large momenta, so the iconic single-particle uncertainty relation permits a particle's position to be arbitrarily accurately ascertained. Once a single-particle theory is second quantized, however, the physics of imparting a particle's wave function with ever larger momenta eventually encounters stiff competition from the formation of multiparticle states wherein none of the individual particles is characterized by high momentum. In fact, the single-particle uncertainty principle itself is modified by the presence of the expectation value of the particle number operator on its right side. Since the threshold for the high-momentum-diverting formation of additional particles is set by the particle's rest mass, it stands to reason that particles have an irreducible position uncertainty of the order of their Compton wavelength, for which we develop a specific model.
In single-particle quantum mechanics there is no impediment to a particle's wave function having a significant amplitude for arbitrarily short wavelengths, i.e., for arbitrarily large momenta, so the iconic single-particle uncertainty relation permits a particle's position to be arbitrarily accurately ascertained. Once a single-particle theory is second quantized, however, the physics of imparting a particle's wave function with ever larger momenta eventually encounters stiff competition from the formation of multiparticle states wherein none of the individual particles is characterized by high momentum. In fact, the single-particle uncertainty principle itself is modified by the presence of the expectation value of the particle number operator on its right side. Since the threshold for the high-momentum-diverting formation of additional particles is set by the particle's rest mass, it stands to reason that particles have an irreducible position uncertainty of the order of their Compton wavelength, for which we develop a specific model.
The Compton wavelength is conventionally introduced as the rest-mass scale $\lc=h/(mc)$, whereas moving particles are normally assigned the de Broglie wavelength $\ldb=h/p$. Haug recently introduced and subsequently refined a frame-dependent relativistic Compton wavelength, $\lcr=h/(\gamma mc)$, with reduced form $\lbarcr=\hbar/(\gamma mc)$. For a massive free particle with p=γmv, the exact identity $\ldb=(c/v)\lcr=\lcr/\beta$ follows immediately. This article examines the consequences of taking $\lcr$, rather than $\ldb$, as the primary wavelength parameter for single-particle relativistic wave mechanics. The distinction is conceptually sharp at rest: $\lcr$ is finite and equals $\lc$ at v=0, while h/p is not defined by ordinary division at p=0, although its limiting spatial wavelength is infinite and its wave number k=p/ℏ is well defined and vanishes. We show that free-particle phase relations, Schr\"odinger eigenstates, box quantisation, diffraction conditions, uncertainty relations, and the plane-wave sectors of the Klein--Gordon and Dirac equations can all be written using $\lbarcr$ and β. In this parameterisation, $E=\hbar c/\lbarcr$ and $p=\hbar\beta/\lbarcr$, so the de Broglie wavelength is a derived spatial period generated by the velocity-dependent spatial gradient of a Compton-scale spacetime phase. The reformulation is algebraically equivalent to standard momentum-space quantum mechanics, but it exposes an unequal domain and an overlooked organisation of four-momentum. The quantity E/c=γmc, already present as the temporal component of four-momentum, is precisely Haug's Compton momentum pC=h/λC,r. Every finite de Broglie wavelength of a massive on-shell particle can be represented by the relativistic Compton wavelength and velocity through $\ldb=\lcr/\beta$.
We demonstrate that the Compton wavelength mathematically corresponds exactly to the photon wavelength of rest mass energy. On the other hand, the de Broglie wavelength is not defined for a rest-mass particle, but if the particle is nearly at rest, then the de Broglie wavelength approaches infinity, and the corresponding photon wavelength of the rest-mass energy is then this length times cv again, that is it approaches zero when v approaches zero. Our analysis indicates that the de Broglie wavelength appears to be a pure mathematical derivative of the Compton wavelength. Everything that can be expressed with the de Broglie wavelength can essentially be expressed by the Compton wavelength. We also demonstrate how spectral lines from atoms and chemical elements are linked to the Compton wavelength of the electron and that the Rydberg constant is not needed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the Compton frequency is embedded in the Schrödinger equation, the Dirac equation, and the Klein-Gordon equation, where the Planck constant actually cancels out, and the de Broglie wavelength is not present in these equations. The Compton frequency seems to be linked to the quantization in quantum mechanics rather than the Planck constant. Additionally, we discuss recent literature that shows a remarkably simple but overlooked way to quantize Newton’s and General Relativity theories, as well as other gravity theories, and also how to link them to the Planck scale. This, once again, leads to the conclusion that the Compton wavelength and Compton frequency are related to the quantization of matter and, thereby, the quantization of gravity. In addition, the Planck length plays a crucial role in quantum gravity, as demonstrated. Viewing physics through the de Broglie wavelength is like looking at the world through a distorted lens; switch to the Compton wavelength, and the distortion is removed, allowing us to see simplicity and clarity even in complex phenomena such as quantum gravity. Remarkably, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle seems to need modification to a Certainty-Uncertainty Principle when one understands that the Compton wavelength is the true wavelength of matter. Gravity is related to the Planck mass particle and is again related to absolute rest, which lasts for the Planck time. This certainty-uncertainty principle leads to the unification of gravity and quantum mechanics.
We demonstrate that the Compton wavelength mathematically corresponds exactly to the photon wavelength of rest mass energy. On the other hand, the de Broglie wavelength is not defined for a rest-mass particle, but if the particle is nearly at rest, then the de Broglie wavelength approaches infinity, and the corresponding photon wavelength of the rest-mass energy is then this length times cv again, that is it approaches zero when v approaches zero. Our analysis indicates that the de Broglie wavelength appears to be a pure mathematical derivative of the Compton wavelength. Everything that can be expressed with the de Broglie wavelength can essentially be expressed by the Compton wavelength. We also demonstrate how spectral lines from atoms and chemical elements are linked to the Compton wavelength of the electron and that the Rydberg constant is not needed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the Compton frequency is embedded in the Schrödinger equation, the Dirac equation, and the Klein-Gordon equation, where the Planck constant actually cancels out, and the de Broglie wavelength is not present in these equations. The Compton frequency seems to be linked to the quantization in quantum mechanics rather than the Planck constant. Additionally, we discuss recent literature that shows a remarkably simple but overlooked way to quantize Newton’s and General Relativity theories, as well as other gravity theories, and also how to link them to the Planck scale. This, once again, leads to the conclusion that the Compton wavelength and Compton frequency are related to the quantization of matter and, thereby, the quantization of gravity. In addition, the Planck length plays a crucial role in quantum gravity, as demonstrated. Viewing physics through the de Broglie wavelength is like looking at the world through a distorted lens; switch to the Compton wavelength, and the distortion is removed, allowing us to see simplicity and clarity even in complex phenomena such as quantum gravity. Remarkably, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle seems to need modification to a Certainty-Uncertainty Principle when one understands that the Compton wavelength is the true wavelength of matter. Gravity is related to the Planck mass particle and is again related to absolute rest, which lasts for the Planck time. This certainty-uncertainty principle leads to the unification of gravity and quantum mechanics.
We demonstrate that the Compton wavelength mathematically corresponds exactly to the photon wavelength of rest mass energy. On the other hand, the de Broglie wavelength is not defined for a rest-mass particle, but if the particle is nearly at rest, then the de Broglie wavelength approaches infinity, and the corresponding photon wavelength of the rest-mass energy is then this length times cv again, that is it approaches zero when v approaches zero. Our analysis indicates that the de Broglie wavelength appears to be a pure mathematical derivative of the Compton wavelength. Everything that can be expressed with the de Broglie wavelength can essentially be expressed by the Compton wavelength. We also demonstrate how spectral lines from atoms and chemical elements are linked to the Compton wavelength of the electron and that the Rydberg constant is not needed. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the Compton frequency is embedded in the Schrödinger equation, the Dirac equation, and the Klein-Gordon equation, where the Planck constant actually cancels out, and the de Broglie wavelength is not present in these equations. The Compton frequency seems to be linked to the quantization in quantum mechanics rather than the Planck constant. Additionally, we discuss recent literature that shows a remarkably simple but overlooked way to quantize Newton’s and General Relativity theories, as well as other gravity theories, and also how to link them to the Planck scale. This, once again, leads to the conclusion that the Compton wavelength and Compton frequency are related to the quantization of matter and, thereby, the quantization of gravity. In addition, the Planck length plays a crucial role in quantum gravity, as demonstrated. Viewing physics through the de Broglie wavelength is like looking at the world through a distorted lens; switch to the Compton wavelength, and the distortion is removed, allowing us to see simplicity and clarity even in complex phenomena such as quantum gravity. Remarkably, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle seems to need modification to a Certainty-Uncertainty Principle when one understands that the Compton wavelength is the true wavelength of matter. Gravity is related to the Planck mass particle and is again related to absolute rest, which lasts for the Planck time. This certainty-uncertainty principle leads to the unification of gravity and quantum mechanics.
The Compton scattering is an elastic collision of the x-ray or gamma photons with free electrons (or loosely bound valence shell electrons). This scattering is demonstrated in Fig. 1. In this communication we are combining Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and the Compton scattering. Note, that some of the expressions (including their derivations) of this communication can be found in modern physics textbooks. Figure 1. Schematic representation of Compton scattering, in which an incoming photon scatters from an electron at rest. The electron of the rest mass m e has the rest energy of E r = m e c 2. The Compton scattered electron (hereinafter the Compton electron) posses a relativistic kinetic energy, the relativistic speed υ e and the linear momentum p e = m e υ e. Before scattering, let the photon moves along the positive x-axis having an energy E 0 = hν 0 , frequency ν 0 , wavelength λ 0 and linear momentum p 0 = hν 0 /c, where h (= 6.63 × 10-34 J s) is the Planck constant and c (= 2.99792×10 8 m s-1) is the speed of light. After scattering, the photon moves at an angle θ off the x-axis with an energy E = hν, frequency ν, wavelength λ and momentum p = hν/c. The conservation of linear momentum of the electron after the collision yields, p e 2 = p 0 2 + p 2-2p 0 pcosθ.
In quantum mechanics the situation is different because the uncertainty principle does not allow us to know the initial positions and momenta of the particles with desired accuracy. The individual particle is described by a wave packet. Since the wave packet is localized and spreading with time, it is impossible to distinguish two identical particles as their wave functions always overlap at any point in space. Quantum theory describes any object at energies below its excitation threshold with four degrees of freedom. The wave functions of all the states of a given system of identical particles must have the same symmetry; otherwise, the wave function of a state formally a superposition of states of different symmetry would be neither symmetrical nor antisymmetrical. Hence, for a system of identical particles, at high energies and low concentration, probable number of particles per quantum state will be very small. Wave functions of the particles are well separated.