1

Lecture:
Quantum Mechanics
Reference:
Book 1(theory): Concept of Modern Physics
by A. Beiser
Or any other book of Modern Physics
2
De- Broglie Hypothesis of matter waves:
Wave theory of light ----------- interference and diffraction.
Quantum (Plancks) theory of light ----- Photoelectric effect and
Compton effect, etc.
Thus Light possesses a dual character, behaving as a wave as
well as a particle (Photon).


In analogy with dual character of light, de-Broglie in
1924 introduced the hypothesis that all material
particles in motion possess a wave character also.
Accordingly, particles such as electrons, protons,
etc. have waves associated with them. These waves
are called matter waves or de-Broglie waves
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MATTER WAVES
h
p
=
In 1924 Prince Louis de Broglie postulated that ordinary matter can
have wave-like properties, with the wavelength related to
momentum p in the same way as for light
de Broglie wavelength
de Broglie relation
34
6.63 10 Js h

=
Plancks constant
Prediction: We must see diffraction and interference of matter waves.
De Broglie
Note: Wavelength depends on momentum, not on the physical size of the particle
In analogy with photon, wavelength of matter waves
Where h is plancks constant, p=mv is momentum
(i) If v =0, then = infinite
It means that waves are associated with moving particles only.
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Like electromagnetic (EM) waves, matter waves can also be
propagated through vacuum. Hence they are not mechanical waves
as the sound waves.
Unlike EM waves, they are also associated with the motion of
electrically neutral body. Hence they are not electromagnetic waves
but they are new kind of waves called matter waves.
Matter waves are sound waves or electromagnetic
waves or new kind of waves?
Different forms of the expression
1. de-Broglie wavelength of a particle of mass m and velocity v
is =h/mv,
where h is Plancks constant. The greater the particles
momentum, the shorter its wavelength. Here in above
expression m is the relativistic mass.



2
2
0
1
c
v
m
m

=
5
4.
.
p
1
3.
.
m
1
2.
. 0, v if i.e. .
v
1
1.

= =
Discussion

Thus matter waves are associated with material particles only if they are in
motion. Wavelength of particle should decrease as its velocity increases.
For a given velocity, heavier particles should have shorter wavelength than
lighter particles. In case of macroscopic objects such as bullet or a ball, the
de-Broglie wavelength is so small that it can not be measured directly by
any known means.
Larger the momentum of the particle, shorter is the wavelength.
Wavelength associated with a material particle is independent of the
charge of the particle. So matter waves are not E.M. waves.
mqV
h
Hence qV E
k
2
= =
k
k k
mE
h
Hence
mE p
m
p
mv E As
2
2
2 2
1
2
2
=
= = =

6
2. If E
k
is the kinetic energy of the material particle, then
3. If a charged particle of charge q is accelerated through a
potential difference of V volts, then
4. For a material particle , like neutron at temperature T having
kinetic energy E
k
=(3/2) kT , where k is Boltzmann constant
mkT
h
Hence kT E
k
3 2
3
= =
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Example: de-Broglie wavelength of associated matter
wave with
(a) a ball of 1 gm moving with velocity 30 m/s. Ans: 2.2 x 10
-32
m.
(b) Electron moving with velocity 10
07
m/s. Ans: 0.7 .
(c) Alpha particle (2 proton+2 neutron) moving with same velocity.

(d) Electron accelerated by 50 volts (or having kinetic energy 50 eV).
Ans: 1.7
(e) Wavelength of Nitrogen molecule at room temperature.
(f) Wavelength of Rubidium(87) atom at 50nK.


Now Let us test de-Broglie hypothesis..
Q: A proton and electron have equal kinetic energies. Compare their De-
Broglie wavelengths.
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Example: Find the Kinetic energy of a proton whose de Broglie
wavelength is 1fm , which is roughly the proton diameter.

Solution : A relativistic calculation is needed when pc>E
o
. In case of
proton rest mass energy E
o
=0.938GeV.

pc=(mv)c=hc/=1.2410GeV

Since pc>E
o
a relativistic calculation is required.

2 2 2
1.555
The corresponding kinetic energy
KE=E-E 0.617 617
o
o
E E p c GeV
GeV MeV
= + =
= =
10
Derive the expression for de-Broglie wavelength of electron in each case.
(1) Non relativistic (m=m
0
):



(2) Relativistic Case: ( K.E (eV) is comparable to rest mass energy.
eV m
h
0
2
=
2 / 1
2
0
0
2
0
2
1
2
) 2 (

|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
+
=
c m
eV
eV m
h
c m K K
hc

Where K is Kinetic energy and m

0
is rest mass of electron
2 2 2 2 4
0 0
/ .
k
Hint:
Solution: RelativisticCase
Start with theexpressionof Total energy
E m c p c m c
and determine p then h p
+ = +
=
11
k
k
k
k
k
k
k
k
k
k k
k k
k k
k
E m
h
E m p
case ic relativist non c m E when
c m
E
E m
h
c m
E
E m
c m
E
c m E
c
p or
c m E E
hc
c m E E
c
p Hence
c m c p c m E c m E
c m c p c m E
0
0
2
0
2
1
2
0 0
2
0
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
2
0
4 2
0
2 2 2
0
4 2
0
2
4 2
0
2 2 2
0
k
2
2
) (
2
1
2 2
1 2
2
1 2
1
) 2 (
) 2 (
1
2
by given is E energy kinetic
and m mass rest of particle moving a of energy Total
Case ic Relativist : Solution
= =
<<
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
+
= + =
+ = + +
+ = +

Note: For electron; Kinetic energy is eV.

Matter Waves Vs EM Waves

1. Matter waves are associated with moving particles irrespective of whether the
particles are charged or not. EM waves are produced only by charged
accelerated particles.

2. Matter waves are obtained by charged particles are associated with electric and
magnetic fields. EM waves are associated with electric and magnetic fields
perpendicular to each other as well as to the direction of propagation of wave.

3. Matter waves are neither emitted by the particles nor radiated into space.
These are simply associated with the particles. . EM waves can be radiated into
space.

4. The velocity of matter waves depends upon the velocity of the material particles.
Velocity of EM waves is constant in a given medium.

5. The velocity of matter waves are generally less than the velocity of light. . The
velocity of EM waves is equal to the velocity of light.

6. The mater waves have shorter wavelengths given by de-Broglie equation.
=h/p
The wavelength of EM waves are given by relation:
=c/v
1.Calculate the velocity and kinetic energy of neutron having
de-Broglie wavelength 1A
o


Velocity= 3.9610
3
m/sec
Kinetic Energy= 0.082eV


2. An electron and a photon each have a wavelength of 2.0
A
o
. Compare their (a) momentum, (b) total energies, ( c)
ratio of their kinetic energies.


(a) p
e
=3.3110
-24
kg m/s
p
p
=3.3110
-24
kg m/s
(b)K
e
=37.6eV , E
o
=0.5MeVE=0.51 MeV
K
p
=6.21keV, E
o
=ZERO E=6.21 keV
(c ) K
e
/K
p
=6.05 10
-3
3. Calculate the de-Broglie wavelength of an o-particle
accelerated through a potential difference of 200Volts.
0.00716 A
o
4. What voltage must be applied to an electron microscope to
produce electrons of wavelength 0.40 A
o
?
934.76 Volt
5. Can a photon and an electron of the same momentum have
the same wavelength?
Compare their wavelength if the two have the same energy.

e
=
p

p/

e
=(2mc
2
/E)
-1/2
6. Neutrons are in thermal equilibrium with matter at room
temperature 27
o
C . Determine the average energy and de-
Broglie wavelength of neutrons. k=1.3810
-23
J/K.
6.21 10-21 J,1.45 A
o


7. An enclosure filled with helium is heated to a temperature
of 400 K. A beam of helium atoms emerges out of the
enclosure. Calculate de-Broglie wavelength corresponding to
He atoms. M
He
=6.710
-27
kg.

0.628A
o
8. A beam of electrons of kinetic energy 100eV passes
through a thin metal foil. On a screen at a distance of 20cm
most intense ring observed has a diameter 2.44 cm.
calculate the spacing of the related lattice planes in the
metal.
10.11A
o


9. Calculate the wavelength associated with a (i) 1MeV
electron (ii) 1 MeV proton , and (iii) 1MeV photon.

e=0.00875A
o
p=0.000287A
o
photon=0.0124 A
o
Energy and Momentum for
Massive vs. Massless Particles
Massive Particles (e.g. electrons)
E
k
= mv
2
= p
2
/2m = h
2
/2m
2
p = (2Em)
1/2

= h/p = h/(2Em)
1/2
Massless Particles (e.g. photons)
E = pc = hc/
p = E/c
= h/p = hc/E
Lowest energy e
-
s
E
k
= 25eV
p = 2.7x10
-24
kg m/s
v = 3x10
6
m/s = c/100
= 0.24 nm

Typical photons
E = 2.5eV
p = 1.3x10
-27
kg m/s
v = c = 3x10
8
m/s
= 500 nm
deBroglie relationship is universal