This paper explores the assumptions underpinning de Broglie’s concept of a wave-packet and the various conceptual questions and issues. It also explores how the alternative – the ring current model of an electron (or of matter-particles in general) – relates to Louis de Broglie’s λ = h/p relation and rephrases the theory in terms of the wavefunction as well as the wave equation(s) for an electron in free space.
This paper explores the assumptions underpinning de Broglie’s concept of a wave-packet and the various conceptual questions and issues. It also explores how the alternative – the ring current model of an electron (or of matter-particles in general) – relates to Louis de Broglie’s λ = h/p relation and rephrases the theory in terms of the wavefunction as well as the wave equation(s) for an electron in free space.
The proposed paper calls attention towards the unobserved mathematical and conceptual inadequacies persisting in the wave-particle duality and matter wave’s concepts, given by Louis de Broglie. Matter wave’s frequency and phase velocity expressions, shown to be inappropriate, are the consequences of these inadequate concepts. The rectifications in these concepts are presented through the corrected implementation of analogy between light waves and matter waves and thus modified frequency and phase velocity expressions are introduced. The proposed expressions are free from all the inadequacies and negations, contrary to that confronted by de Broglie’s proposed expressions. Mathematical proofs for the proposed modified frequency and phase velocity expression are also presented. A novel General Quantum Mechanical Wave Equation is proposed involving the modified phase velocity expression, which itself can precisely derive out Schrodinger’s and Dirac’s Equation.
Louis-Victor de Broglie secured his place in the history of quantum physics by proposing the existence of matter waves. Following the concept accepted early in the twentieth century that light waves could display properties characteristic of particles (photons), de Broglie suggested the complementary principle that particles could display properties characteristic of waves. Within a few years, this far-reaching proposal was experimentally verified. The well-known formula for the wavelength λ of the wave associated with a particle of momentum p, namely λ=h/p, does not appear in de Broglie’s original paper, which was published in this journal in 1924. What is derived from the starting assumption that the frequency of the wave is the rest energy of the particle divided by Planck’s constant h, is the wave's velocity, which turns out to be c2/v, where v is the particle’s velocity. This velocity, being superluminal, means that the wave cannot transport energy. De Broglie called it a phase wave and postulated a group of such waves having virtually, but not exactly, the same velocity and wavelength. The group velocity of such a large number of almost identical phase waves is then shown, very satisfactorily, to be equal to the velocity of the particle. The proposal by de Broglie inspired Schrödinger to develop the mathematical foundations of wave mechanics. Whereas in conventional quantum theory, phase waves are considered fictional, de Broglie considered them to have a certain physical reality, renaming them pilot or guiding waves – a concept developed later by Bohm in 1952.
The proposed paper calls attention towards the unobserved mathematical and conceptual inadequacies persisting in the wave-particle duality and matter wave’s concepts, given by Louis de Broglie. Matter wave’s frequency and phase velocity expressions, shown to be inappropriate, are the consequences of these inadequate concepts. The rectifications in these concepts are presented through the corrected implementation of analogy between light waves and matter waves and thus modified frequency and phase velocity expressions are introduced. The proposed expressions are free from all the inadequacies and negations, contrary to that confronted by de Broglie’s proposed expressions. Mathematical proofs for the proposed modified frequency and phase velocity expression are also presented. A novel General Quantum Mechanical Wave Equation is proposed involving the modified phase velocity expression, which itself can precisely derive out Schrodinger’s and Dirac’s Equation.
This chapter examines the wave properties of matter. Early attempts to extend the quantum ideas to the theory of matter had some limited success, but did not progress very far. Another radical idea was required before a satisfactory theory could be developed. As light has both wave and particle properties, perhaps the same is true of 'ordinary' particles such as electrons. This bold suggestion was made by Louis de Broglie in 1923, and within a few years it had been confirmed experimentally. De Broglie's wave hypothesis formed the basis for Schrödinger's equation, which was found capable of predicting the allowed energy levels in atoms and molecules, and must be regarded as one of the most important mathematical equations of modern science. Before discussing these ideas, the chapter begins by considering the classical mechanics of particles, reviewing some simple concepts that form an essential background to the quantum theory of matter.
Where did we get that [equation] from? Nowhere. It is not possible to derive it from anything you know. It came out of the mind of Schrödinger. Richard Feynman De Broglie's matter waves The early struggles of physicists towards a quantum theory were mostly concerned with attempts to understand the nature of light. The traditional picture of light as a wave motion had been challenged by Planck and Einstein. They had shown that certain experimental results that were impossible to understand in terms of a wave picture could be easily explained if light was thought of as a stream of particles, now called photons. William Bragg, who, with his son, won the 1915 Nobel Prize for studies of crystal structure using X-rays, summarized this dilemma for physics by exclaiming in despair that he was teaching the corpuscular theory of light on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the undulatory theory on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays! Physicists were still wrestling with these apparently contradictory properties of light when, in 1924, Prince Louis de Broglie (pronounced ‘de Broy’) suggested that all matter, even objects that we usually think of as particles – such as electrons – should also display wavelike behaviour! This revolutionary idea was completely unexpected and, what is more, was included by de Broglie in his Ph. D. thesis. Like most people, physicists are generally reluctant to accept any wild new idea, especially if there is not a shred of evidence to support it.