De Broglie hypothesis - Definition and Overview

Louis de Broglie claimed that all matter has a wave-like nature and related its wavelength <math>\lambda<math> and momentum <math>p<math> by the equation:

<math>\lambda=\frac{h}{p}<math>

where <math>h<math> is Planck's constant.

The results of his hypothesis were proven when the scientists Clinton Davisson and Lester Germer performed an experiment in 1927. They found that when slow moving electrons with energy approximately 54eV is coincident upon a nickel surface, the crystalline atomic structure of the nickel atoms produced an alternating series of low intensity and high intensity 'beams'. This is akin to the effects of a diffraction grating.

By calculation of this wavelength <math>\lambda<math> using the equation:

<math>d\sin\theta=m\lambda<math>

Davisson and Germer confirmed de Broglie's hypothesis; for the calculated de Broglie wavelength is approximately similar to that of the experiment.

Note: in French "de Broglie" is pronounced [dœ bʀœj], which sounds close to "de Broy". This is an alteration of the italian pronunciation of "gl" (sound like "ll"); the original name was "Broglia", and was francisized in 1654 [1] (http://genealogy.euweb.cz/broglie/broglie3.html).

See also

• Wave-particle duality
• Hamiltonian
• Clinton Davisson