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Matter Waves: PH 333: Quantum Physics

1) De Broglie proposed that matter can be described by waves, with wavelength λ related to momentum p by λ = h/p. This provided an explanation for quantization in the Bohr model of the atom. 2) Davisson and Germer performed experiments demonstrating the wave nature of electrons by observing diffraction patterns when electrons scattered off crystal surfaces. 3) A single plane wave is not a good representation for a localized particle. Instead, a wavepacket consisting of a superposition of many plane waves with a range of wavelengths centered around λ0 provides a better representation. 4) Localizing the wavepacket introduces uncertainty, satisfying the uncertainty principle ΔxΔp ≥ ħ

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52 views22 pages

Matter Waves: PH 333: Quantum Physics

1) De Broglie proposed that matter can be described by waves, with wavelength λ related to momentum p by λ = h/p. This provided an explanation for quantization in the Bohr model of the atom. 2) Davisson and Germer performed experiments demonstrating the wave nature of electrons by observing diffraction patterns when electrons scattered off crystal surfaces. 3) A single plane wave is not a good representation for a localized particle. Instead, a wavepacket consisting of a superposition of many plane waves with a range of wavelengths centered around λ0 provides a better representation. 4) Localizing the wavepacket introduces uncertainty, satisfying the uncertainty principle ΔxΔp ≥ ħ

Uploaded by

Antonio Bernardo
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PH 333: Quantum Physics

Lecture 9

Matter Waves

Lecturer: Dr. Rebekah DArcy

Recap
E 2 p 2 c 2 m02 c 4

E = h = hc/

= h/p

p = mv

p = m v

De Broglies Explanation of Quantization in the Bohr Model


The Bohr quantum condition for stationary states can be understood by
requiring the circular path of the electrons around the nucleus to be
an integral number of deBroglie wavelengths.
Any other non-integral path will cause total destructive interference.

Davisson and Germer

n = d Sin

What do de Broglie waves look like ?


De Broglie gave the formula for and k, but he did not indicate what
they would look like.
Consider, a wave described by the wavefunction,(x,t), where.

( x, t ) e

i ( kx t )

If we plot the real part (or complex part):

It is difficult to see how this can represent a single particle


The wave is spread to with uniform amplitude
Waves of single and k are poor representatives for a single particle.

Representing a particle with matter waves:


(a) particle of mass m and speed v0
(b) superposition of many matter waves with a spread of wavelengths
centered on 0 = h/mv correctly represents a particle.

Consider a wave made up of two separate waves

( x, t ) sin k 0 k x ( 0 )t sin k 0 k x ( 0 )t
( x, t ) 2 sin k 0 x 0 t cosk x t

Consider the case k >>dk

>>,

Then the wavelength of the envelope is much


longer than the mean wavelength of the two
waves.
The formula for the envelope is cos (k x - t)
which indicates that it is a wave travelling in the +
x direction, with group velocity

The rapidly oscillating part of the pattern is


travelling at phase velocity.

vp

0
k0

If the relationship between and k for the two waves satisfies de


Broglies relationship
2 4
2 k 2c 2

m0 c
2

Then, we can get a relationship between k and as follows:

m02 c 4
k 0 k c 2

m02 c 4
2 0 k 2k 0k c 2

2
0

2
0

Eqn 1

as 0>>, and k0>>k.


Likewise,
Subtracting 2 from 1,

2 4
m
c
02 2 0 k 02 2k 0k c 2 0 2

4 0 4k 0k c 2

k 0 2

c
k 0

Eqn 2

4 0 4k 0k c 2

k 0 2

c
k 0
Since 0 and k0 are average values of frequency and wave vector, we
can write,
E 0
p k 0
where E and p are values of the energy and momentum for the particle.
But
E 0 mc 2

p k0
mv
0 c 2

k0
v

where v is the velocity of the particle, therefore


k 0 2

c v the velocity of the particle


k 0

k 0 2

c v the velocity of the particle


k 0

This composite wave has a nice feature in that its envelope moves at
the velocity of the particle.
However, it is still not very good in that it does not indicate the location
of the particle it describes.
What we would like, is a wave of the following form where the wave
travels at the particles velocity.
v

Spatially localised wave packet


First we consider localising the wave packet.
We will ignore the time dependence of the wave
function for the moment.
We will consider this later when we try to address the
velocity of the wave.

Consider

( x) k Ak e

ikx

A(k)

We will consider adding a large number of waves

k0

The k values stretch in a quasi-continuous fashion


about k0.
As we consider a large number of k values we can
replace the summation with an integral

( x) A(k ) e dk
ikx

where

A(k ) e

k k 0 2

( x) A(k ) e dk

We can write:

ikx

( x) e

ik 0 x

k k 0 2

k k0 2

ikx ik 0 x

e e

dk

ik 0 x

( x) e ik0 x e
Let

ix
2

k k0 2 2 k k0

( x) e ik0 x e

ix

k k 0 2 k k 0

( x) eik0 x e

e ik0 x e

dk

ix

k k 0 2 2 k k 0
2

k k 0'

dk

then

ix
2
2
2
2
2

2
ab

2
ab

b2

k k0 ix ix
2
2
2

dk

e ik0 x e

ix

k k 0
2

dk eik0 x e

ik 0 x

ei k k0 x dk

ix

k k 0
2

k k 0 2

0
2

a k k0 , b

e ikx dk

e
0

dk
2

where

k 0' k 0

ix
2

ix

k k 0
2

dk

ix

dk

We need to carry out the integration. Even though k 0 is a complex number, this
does not present any problem.

k k 0'

dk
2

z 2

dz

where

z k k 0'

k 0'

If (k0)2 1/, then for z less than k0, the function

z 2

is vanishingly small. Therefore we can add the


vanishingly small part to the integral.

dz

z 2

z = -k0

dz

dz

Hence

z 2

k 0'

( x) e

ik 0 x

4
e

k k 0'

dk eik x e x

To summarise
( x)

k k 0

ikx

e dk

ik0 x x 2 4
( x)
e e

x=0

We have succeeded in localising the wave


packet in the vicinity of x = 0. This is
suitable for a de Broglie wave representing a
particle in the vicinity of x = 0.

Stationary
wavepacket

Uncertainty principle (space, momentum)


Before we consider developing a moving wavepacket, lets
reflect a little more on the significance of what we have
done.
To localise the wave we have had to add together many
waves of different k values. In so doing we have
introduced uncertainty in k or in momentum. Lets call
the uncertainty in k, k.

From the above diagram we are also not sure where


precisely the particle is localised. Let us consider this
further.

x=0
Stationary
wavepacket

Consider the square of the wavefunction .

( x)

ik0 x
e e

( x) c e
2

2
x

ik 0 x x 2 4

e e

ik0 x x 2 4 x 2 2
e
e
e

x 2 / 2
Particle is
localised to an
uncertainty here

x =0

Likewise, we can regard A(k) as indicating the range of k values which the particle is likely
to have

A (k ) e
2

k 1

2 ( k k 0 ) 2

k0

Hence we have

k x 1

The range of k
values is around
k0

Hence we have

k x 1

The uncertainty in k and in position, x, is an inherent characteristic of


describing matter using waves
Regarding matter waves,
x is the uncertainty in the particles position
k is p, the uncertainty in the particles momentum

p x

Travelling wave packet


Next consider the construction of a travelling wave packet.

Consider
( x, t ) e k k e i kx t dk
0

where k and are related


by the deBroglie relationship

2 4
m
c
2 k 2c 2 0 2

Lets assume that the width k of the wave packet is small so that there is only a
narrow range of k values about k = k0 that are significant.
Likewise, assume only a narrow range of values around 0 is significant.
We can express in terms of k as follows:

d
(k ) k 0
dk

k k 0 .......
k k0

(k ) 0
d
To find dk

d
dk

k k0
k0

we proceed as follows:
k0

m02 c 4
k c 2

2d 2kdkc 2
2

d
dk

2 2

k0

k 0 c 2 p0 c 2

v0 , velocity of particle
0
E0

p0 and E0 are the average values of the momentum and energy,


respectively.

(k ) 0 v0 k k 0

To construct the travelling wave packet, we use the same approach as before. We
consider,

( x, t ) e

k k 0 2

e i kx t dk

( x, t ) e

k k 0 2

e i kx 0 v0 k k0 t dk

( x, t ) e

k k 0 2

e ikx e i0t e iv0 k k0 t dk

( x, t ) e

k k 0 2

e i k k0 x e ik0 x e i0t e iv0 k k0 t dk

( x, t ) e

i k 0 x 0t

k k 0 2

e i k k0 x e iv0 k k0 t dk

( x, t ) e

i k 0 x 0t

e
0

k k 0 2

e i k k0 x v0t dk

Do this!

( x, t ) e

i k 0 x 0t

k k 0 2

e i k k0 x v0t dk

Using the same approach as before, we can write down the sum as follows:

( x, t ) e

i k 0 x 0t

x v0 t 2

k k0''

dk
2

where k 0'' k 0

( x, t ) e i k0 x 0t e

x v0 t 2

i k0 x 0t x v0t

e
e

i
x v0 t
2

This is identical to previous wave packet


except that the centre of the packet moves
with velocity v0.

Uncertainty principle, (energy, time)


Because of the uncertainty in k there is uncertainty in as (k),
= k v0
And, because there is uncertainty in position, x, there is uncertainty in the time that the
particle arrives at a specific point,

1
t x
v0

Hence
t = k x 1
t
E t
In Summary: We managed to construct wave functions which describe particles, but it is very
tedious!
We also showed the uncertainty principle along the way!

Next day: We consider an alternative approach, is there a wave equation from which we can
solve or extract solutions?

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