Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Juniper Online Journal Material Science

Double-Slit Interferometry: The De Broglie Particle-Wave Duality

Jacques Rault

Published Aug 21, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The de Broglie wavelength λ= h/mv of simple particles (photon, electron, neutron) atoms (helium, neon) and molecules (fullerene, fluorous porphyrin) deduced from the de Broglie (dB) relation and those measured by double slits interferometry are compared.The de Broglie relation is verified in very large domains of velocity v and mass m of the particles, respectively 8 and 13 orders of magnitude.In this paper one analyses the interference spectra of photons and electrons and give the Intensity Relations IR(II-DI) between the interference intensity (II) by two slits and the diffracted intensity (DI) by one slit.The double slits interference in the de Broglie-Bohm interpretation is an interference of particle and pilot waves, internal and external waves each passing by a different slit.The velocities of these waves are discussed.From the universal de Broglie relation and the relation vp = vw between the particle and pilot waves one shows that only in the domain of the maximum of the light spectrum (λm~ 550 µm) the dB relation leads to the Plank-Einstein (PE) relation hν=mc 2 .A measure of the mass of the photon m* = 4 10 -36 Kg is deduced.The de Broglie relation for different wave lengths shows that the PE relation must be modified, the velocity of light is not constant as shown by various experiments: Global Positioning Systems GPS, red shift in astronomy etc.This has been discussed by Marmet in years 2000.The same conclusion was given by Sato in 2010 for electromagnetic waves.The trajectories of electrons observed by Jönsson by double slits interferometry and then calculated by Gondran according to the de Broglie-Bohm interpretation are then analyzed in detail.The correlations observed between the properties of these trajectories at short and long distances from the slits permit to give the general equation of the trajectories.The origin of these properties is discussed in the framework model of De Broglie and Bohm, assuming that at any point the intensity of the two waves (particle and pilot wave) passing by the 2 slits are deceasing functions of the distance to the slits.The changes of direction of the trajectories are explained.

DOI
10.19080/jojms.2023.08.555729

Related papers

Macromolecular Interference and the de Broglie-Bohm Interpretation

Kazuyasu Shigemoto

The double-slit interference experiment of macromolecules highlights wave-particle complementarity in coordinate space. The de Broglie–Bohm interpretation can explain this experiment well. The de Broglie wave of the total mass in the center of mass coordinate becomes the pilot wave, and the particle of the relative position of the fullerene body travels according to this pilot wave.

European Journal of Applied Physics•Apr 29, 2026•0 citations

Will the Quantum Mechanical Waves of Equal de Broglie Wavelength of the Electrons and Protons Interfere in the Double Slit Experiments

Hasmukh K. Tank

In a recent paper, titled “Explanation for the observed wave-particle-duality of Light” (Tank, H.K. http://vixra.org/abs/1402.0153, 2014) it was explained that: “Since at very high frequencies, narrowband filtering and generation of purely monochromatic light of one Hertz bandwidth is not yet technically possible, there has been quite a wide bandwidth of waves involved, in the double slit experiments and photoelectric experiments performed so far. And since this wide ‘band’ of waves coherently add only at discrete points in space and time, we get ‘particles’ at the detectors.” Now, to further confirm the validity of this explanation, a new kind of experiment is proposed here, in which protons and electrons are accelerated at appropriate velocities vp ve , such that their de Broglie wavelengths are equal; i.e. ( h / mp vp )= ( h / me ve ) and let them pass through closely spaced slits so that they can interfere with each other. Similarly, in another experiment, their wave-functions: A exp i ( kp X - ωp t ) = A exp i ( ke X - ωe t ) , and let them pass through closely spaced slits, and see how the two matter-waves interfere.

•Mar 1, 2014•0 citations

On the two-slit interference experiment with electrons : a theoretical prediction of Bohm-de Broglie quantum mechanics different from the prediction of usual Copenhagen quantum mechanics

Eduardo Sergio Santini, Germán M. Chiappe

The Bohm-de Broglie quantum mechanics has made possible to calculate the trajectories of electrons in a typical double-slit experiment[C. Philippidis et al., Il Nuovo Cimento, 52 B, 15-28 (1979)]. The trajectories do not correspond to an uniform movement but to an accelerated one. The acceleration is caused by the quantum potential. From the quantum theoretical point of view, the accelerated electrons should, with a certain probabil-ity, emit photons during its movement from the slits to the screen. According to the Copenhagen interpretation we found that this quantity is strictly zero because the electron moves as a free particle along its path after it leaves the slit and before reach the screen. Then, there is no emission of photons. On the other hand, by using the Bohm-de Broglie (BdB) approach we calculate the emission power, giving a general formula and which results, for a concrete real experiment, in a very tiny but not a vanishing value. We give an idea of the type of spectrum that could be measured. Therefore we have shown that the theoretical predictions of the usual quan-tum mechanics and that of Bohm-de Broglie’s interpretation are different. An experiment could determine the correct prediction.

Notas de Física•Apr 10, 2018•0 citations

Double-slit interference and single-slit diffraction experiments on electrons

Huawang Li

De Broglie proposed the matter wave in 1924. The de Broglie wave is neither a mechanical wave nor an electromagnetic wave and has a very short wavelength. The Davisson-Germer electron diffraction experiment performed in 1925 involved bombarding the surface of a nickel crystal with a narrow beam of electrons. When the accelerating voltage V was maintained at 54 V, the wavelength of the incident electron was λ=h/ 2 m e V = 0.167 nm [Y. S. Chen and Z. Z. Li, College Physics (Tianjin University, Tianjin, 1999)] demonstrating the existence of the matter wave. We introduce a type of electron wave with a very long wavelength in this study that is different from the matter wave. For example, the wavelength of the electron wave can reach 0.43 mm in the double-slit interference of electrons. Experiments demonstrate that this long-wavelength electron wave can produce both double-slit interference and electron diffraction. A comparative analysis of matter and electron waves reveals the physical natures of these waves and wave‐particle duality.

Physics Essays•Sep 3, 2022•0 citations

On a new prediction of Causal Quantum Mechanics for the two-slit interference experiment with electrons

Eduardo Sergio Santini, Germán M. Chiappe, González, Rafael

The causal quantum mechanics (i.e. Bohmian or de Broglie-Bohm or Bohm-de Broglie quantum mechanics) has made possible to calculate the trajectories of electrons in a typical double-slit experiment [C. Philippidis et al., Il Nuovo Cimento, 52 B, 15-28 (1979)]. The trajectories do not correspond to an uniform movement but to an accelerated one. The acceleration is caused by the quantum potential. From the quantum theoretical point of view, there is a probability for the electron to emit photons, with a certain emission power, during its movement from the slits to the screen. We find a quantum general formula for the emission power of photons, valid independently of the interpretation. Then, according to the Copenhagen interpretation, this formula gives a strictly zero value for the emission power because the electron moves as a free particle after it leaves the slit and before reach the screen. Then, there is no emission of photons. In the case of the causal interpretation, the emission power results, for a concrete real experiment, in a very tiny but not a zero value, driven by the square of the quantum potential gradient. We give an idea of the type of spectrum that could be measured. A brief idea of a possible experimental arrangement in order to detect this effect, is given.

arXiv:1801.02096•Jan 6, 2018•0 citations

The ‘Pairwise Interference Model’ of Light–Matter Interaction and the Wave Properties of the Photon

Wolfgang Tiefenbrunner

Within the framework of the ‘Pairwise Interference Model’ of light–matter interaction, it is postulated that light particles follow definite trajectories, and thus, for example, in the double-slit experiment, a particle can pass through only one of the two slits. On this premise, the interference of two photons is examined in greater detail. It is hypothesized that the interference of a photon pair requires the involvement of matter and, initially, that both molecular excitations and photons oscillate at the same frequency and that the continuity of the oscillation is not disrupted by absorption and emission. The molecular excitations in the light source are supposed to oscillate synchronously. Both photons arrive at the same point on the detector but may travel along different paths and therefore arrive at different times. Under these conditions, their phase difference, φ(2) – φ(1), is always zero. Consequently, no interference pattern can form on the detector screen and therefore the assumptions made are incorrect. Alternatively, one may assume that only the photon oscillates, whereas the excitation stores the phase, φ, possessed by the photon at the instant of absorption. In this case, φ(2) – φ(1) corresponds to the difference in travel times modulo the oscillation period, and an interference pattern can form. However, this assumption is problematic for some reasons: the nature of the matter-based memory remains unclear; according to the special theory of relativity, no time elapses for a particle travelling at the speed of light, meaning that it cannot oscillate; and the assumption contradicts Bohr’s correspondence principle. In a classical wave, the phase information propagates away from the source at the wave velocity without changing. This leads to the alternative possibility that the excitations oscillate, whereas the photons do not. Instead, the photons transport information about the phase of the excitation at the instant of emission. As can be shown, in this case, φ(2) – φ(1) likewise corresponds to the difference in travel times modulo the oscillation period. However, this hypothesis contradicts the de Broglie postulate, according to which all particles exhibit wave properties, and the relation ε = hν must therefore be interpreted differently. It also raises the question of how the dimensions of a laser, specifically the mirror separation, can influence the wavelength of the amplified light if a photon has no wavelength. Using replicator dynamics and the ‘Pairwise Interference Model’ of light–matter interaction, a simulation demonstrates that, in a simplified laser model, assuming that photons do not oscillate whereas excitations do, self-organisation gives rise to a phase pattern in the sequence of photons within the emitted light beam that corresponds to the pattern obtained by discretising a classical wave. Thus, coherent light can exhibit wave properties even if photons themselves do not. Finally, the possibility of how incoherent light acquires wave properties is briefly discussed.

•Oct 22, 2026•0 citations
The de Broglie wavelength λ= h/mv of simple particles (photon, electron, neutron) atoms (helium, neon) and molecules (fullerene, fluorous porphyrin) deduced from the de Broglie (dB) relation and those measured by double slits interferometry are compared.The de Broglie relation is verified in very large domains of velocity v and mass m of the particles, respectively 8 and 13 orders of magnitude.In this paper one analyses the interference spectra of photons and electrons and give the Intensity Relations IR(II-DI) between the interference intensity (II) by two slits and the diffracted intensity (DI) by one slit.The double slits interference in the de Broglie-Bohm interpretation is an interference of particle and pilot waves, internal and external waves each passing by a different slit.The velocities of these waves are discussed.From the universal de Broglie relation and the relation vp = vw between the particle and pilot waves one shows that only in the domain of the maximum of the light spectrum (λm~ 550 µm) the dB relation leads to the Plank-Einstein (PE) relation hν=mc 2 .A measure of the mass of the photon m* = 4 10 -36 Kg is deduced.The de Broglie relation for different wave lengths shows that the PE relation must be modified, the velocity of light is not constant as shown by various experiments: Global Positioning Systems GPS, red shift in astronomy etc.This has been discussed by Marmet in years 2000.The same conclusion was given by Sato in 2010 for electromagnetic waves.The trajectories of electrons observed by Jönsson by double slits interferometry and then calculated by Gondran according to the de Broglie-Bohm interpretation are then analyzed in detail.The correlations observed between the properties of these trajectories at short and long distances from the slits permit to give the general equation of the trajectories.The origin of these properties is discussed in the framework model of De Broglie and Bohm, assuming that at any point the intensity of the two waves (particle and pilot wave) passing by the 2 slits are deceasing functions of the distance to the slits.The changes of direction of the trajectories are explained.
In a recent paper, titled “Explanation for the observed wave-particle-duality of Light” (Tank, H.K. http://vixra.org/abs/1402.0153, 2014) it was explained that: “Since at very high frequencies, narrowband filtering and generation of purely monochromatic light of one Hertz bandwidth is not yet technically possible, there has been quite a wide bandwidth of waves involved, in the double slit experiments and photoelectric experiments performed so far. And since this wide ‘band’ of waves coherently add only at discrete points in space and time, we get ‘particles’ at the detectors.” Now, to further confirm the validity of this explanation, a new kind of experiment is proposed here, in which protons and electrons are accelerated at appropriate velocities vp ve , such that their de Broglie wavelengths are equal; i.e. ( h / mp vp )= ( h / me ve ) and let them pass through closely spaced slits so that they can interfere with each other. Similarly, in another experiment, their wave-functions: A exp i ( kp X - ωp t ) = A exp i ( ke X - ωe t ) , and let them pass through closely spaced slits, and see how the two matter-waves interfere.
The Bohm-de Broglie quantum mechanics has made possible to calculate the trajectories of electrons in a typical double-slit experiment[C. Philippidis et al., Il Nuovo Cimento, 52 B, 15-28 (1979)]. The trajectories do not correspond to an uniform movement but to an accelerated one. The acceleration is caused by the quantum potential. From the quantum theoretical point of view, the accelerated electrons should, with a certain probabil-ity, emit photons during its movement from the slits to the screen. According to the Copenhagen interpretation we found that this quantity is strictly zero because the electron moves as a free particle along its path after it leaves the slit and before reach the screen. Then, there is no emission of photons. On the other hand, by using the Bohm-de Broglie (BdB) approach we calculate the emission power, giving a general formula and which results, for a concrete real experiment, in a very tiny but not a vanishing value. We give an idea of the type of spectrum that could be measured. Therefore we have shown that the theoretical predictions of the usual quan-tum mechanics and that of Bohm-de Broglie’s interpretation are different. An experiment could determine the correct prediction.
De Broglie proposed the matter wave in 1924. The de Broglie wave is neither a mechanical wave nor an electromagnetic wave and has a very short wavelength. The Davisson-Germer electron diffraction experiment performed in 1925 involved bombarding the surface of a nickel crystal with a narrow beam of electrons. When the accelerating voltage V was maintained at 54 V, the wavelength of the incident electron was λ=h/ 2 m e V = 0.167 nm [Y. S. Chen and Z. Z. Li, College Physics (Tianjin University, Tianjin, 1999)] demonstrating the existence of the matter wave. We introduce a type of electron wave with a very long wavelength in this study that is different from the matter wave. For example, the wavelength of the electron wave can reach 0.43 mm in the double-slit interference of electrons. Experiments demonstrate that this long-wavelength electron wave can produce both double-slit interference and electron diffraction. A comparative analysis of matter and electron waves reveals the physical natures of these waves and wave‐particle duality.
The causal quantum mechanics (i.e. Bohmian or de Broglie-Bohm or Bohm-de Broglie quantum mechanics) has made possible to calculate the trajectories of electrons in a typical double-slit experiment [C. Philippidis et al., Il Nuovo Cimento, 52 B, 15-28 (1979)]. The trajectories do not correspond to an uniform movement but to an accelerated one. The acceleration is caused by the quantum potential. From the quantum theoretical point of view, there is a probability for the electron to emit photons, with a certain emission power, during its movement from the slits to the screen. We find a quantum general formula for the emission power of photons, valid independently of the interpretation. Then, according to the Copenhagen interpretation, this formula gives a strictly zero value for the emission power because the electron moves as a free particle after it leaves the slit and before reach the screen. Then, there is no emission of photons. In the case of the causal interpretation, the emission power results, for a concrete real experiment, in a very tiny but not a zero value, driven by the square of the quantum potential gradient. We give an idea of the type of spectrum that could be measured. A brief idea of a possible experimental arrangement in order to detect this effect, is given.
Within the framework of the ‘Pairwise Interference Model’ of light–matter interaction, it is postulated that light particles follow definite trajectories, and thus, for example, in the double-slit experiment, a particle can pass through only one of the two slits. On this premise, the interference of two photons is examined in greater detail. It is hypothesized that the interference of a photon pair requires the involvement of matter and, initially, that both molecular excitations and photons oscillate at the same frequency and that the continuity of the oscillation is not disrupted by absorption and emission. The molecular excitations in the light source are supposed to oscillate synchronously. Both photons arrive at the same point on the detector but may travel along different paths and therefore arrive at different times. Under these conditions, their phase difference, φ(2) – φ(1), is always zero. Consequently, no interference pattern can form on the detector screen and therefore the assumptions made are incorrect. Alternatively, one may assume that only the photon oscillates, whereas the excitation stores the phase, φ, possessed by the photon at the instant of absorption. In this case, φ(2) – φ(1) corresponds to the difference in travel times modulo the oscillation period, and an interference pattern can form. However, this assumption is problematic for some reasons: the nature of the matter-based memory remains unclear; according to the special theory of relativity, no time elapses for a particle travelling at the speed of light, meaning that it cannot oscillate; and the assumption contradicts Bohr’s correspondence principle. In a classical wave, the phase information propagates away from the source at the wave velocity without changing. This leads to the alternative possibility that the excitations oscillate, whereas the photons do not. Instead, the photons transport information about the phase of the excitation at the instant of emission. As can be shown, in this case, φ(2) – φ(1) likewise corresponds to the difference in travel times modulo the oscillation period. However, this hypothesis contradicts the de Broglie postulate, according to which all particles exhibit wave properties, and the relation ε = hν must therefore be interpreted differently. It also raises the question of how the dimensions of a laser, specifically the mirror separation, can influence the wavelength of the amplified light if a photon has no wavelength. Using replicator dynamics and the ‘Pairwise Interference Model’ of light–matter interaction, a simulation demonstrates that, in a simplified laser model, assuming that photons do not oscillate whereas excitations do, self-organisation gives rise to a phase pattern in the sequence of photons within the emitted light beam that corresponds to the pattern obtained by discretising a classical wave. Thus, coherent light can exhibit wave properties even if photons themselves do not. Finally, the possibility of how incoherent light acquires wave properties is briefly discussed.