1 Answer
Louis de Broglie is best known for his groundbreaking theory of matter waves. In 1924, he proposed that just like light has both particle and wave properties (wave-particle duality), particles like electrons also behave as both particles and waves. This was a key idea in the development of quantum mechanics.
De Broglie suggested that any moving particle, such as an electron, can be associated with a wave whose wavelength is inversely proportional to its momentum. This is described by the formula:
\[
\lambda = \frac{h}{p}
\]
where:
His hypothesis was later confirmed by experiments like the electron diffraction experiment, where electrons showed wave-like behavior. This discovery had a huge impact on physics, contributing to the development of quantum theory and helping to explain phenomena that couldn’t be understood with classical physics.
De Broglie suggested that any moving particle, such as an electron, can be associated with a wave whose wavelength is inversely proportional to its momentum. This is described by the formula:
\[
\lambda = \frac{h}{p}
\]
where:
- \(\lambda\) is the wavelength,
- \(h\) is Planck’s constant,
- \(p\) is the momentum of the particle.
His hypothesis was later confirmed by experiments like the electron diffraction experiment, where electrons showed wave-like behavior. This discovery had a huge impact on physics, contributing to the development of quantum theory and helping to explain phenomena that couldn’t be understood with classical physics.