This article is about wave-like phenomena exhibited by particles of matter. For elastic waves propagating through material media, see Mechanical wave.
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Matter waves are a central part of the theory of quantum mechanics, being half of wave–particle duality. At all scales where measurements have been practical, matter exhibits wave-like behavior. For example, a beam of electrons can be diffracted just like a beam of light or a water wave.
The concept that matter behaves like a wave was proposed by French physicist Louis de Broglie (/dəˈbrɔɪ/) in 1924, and so matter waves are also known as de Broglie waves.
The de Broglie wavelength is the wavelength, λ, associated with a particle with momentum p through the Planck constant, h:
Wave-like behavior of matter has been experimentally demonstrated, first for electrons in 1927 and for other elementary particles, neutral atoms and molecules in the years since.
Matterwaves are a central part of the theory of quantum mechanics, being half of wave–particle duality. At all scales where measurements have been practical...
radio, acoustic, surface water waves, gravity waves, or matterwaves as well as in loudspeakers as electrical waves. The word interference is derived...
Tidal wave, a scientifically incorrect name for a tsunami Tollmien–Schlichting wave, in fluid dynamics Wind wave Bloch's theorem Matterwave Pilot wave theory...
A matterwave clock is a type of clock whose principle of operation makes use of the apparent wavelike properties of matter. Matterwaves were first proposed...
particles such as photons, or other energy phenomena or waves such as light or heat.: 21 Matter exists in various states (also known as phases). These...
water) or by interaction of the waves with the transmitting medium. Elementary particles, considered as matterwaves, have a nontrivial dispersion relation...
What is dark matter? How was it generated? (more unsolved problems in physics) In astronomy, dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that appears...
In physics, a mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter, and therefore transfers energy through a material medium. (Vacuum is, from classical...
Charge density wave: An ordered state in which charge density is periodically modulated. Quantum Hall state: A topological state of matter with quantized...
Electromagnetic waves of different frequency are called by different names since they have different sources and effects on matter. In order of increasing...
medical imaging. Matterwaves and acoustic waves can also be considered forms of radiative energy, and recently gravitational waves have been associated...
the wave nature of electrons and suggested that all matter has wave properties. This concept is known as the de Broglie hypothesis, an example of wave–particle...
with distance. When a shock wave passes through matter, energy is preserved but entropy increases. This change in the matter's properties manifests itself...
principle) Matter, like light, exhibits a wave-particle duality. An experiment can demonstrate the particle-like properties of matter, or its wave-like properties;...
frequency multiplied by the Planck constant, and the wavelength of a matterwave equals the Planck constant divided by the associated particle momentum...
intensity across many colors in the visible range. Continuous wave theories of light and matter cannot explain the black-body radiation curve. Planck spread...
interferometer uses the wave-like nature of atoms in order to produce interference. In atom interferometers, the roles of matter and light are reversed...
associated matterwave which evolves according to the Schrödinger equation. Each particle follows a deterministic trajectory, which is guided by the wave function;...
In physics, a wave packet (also known as a wave train or wave group) is a short burst of localized wave action that travels as a unit, outlined by an...
interaction of three or more waves, which includes the "three-wave equation" Quantum mechanics Wave equation Quantum state Matterwave This disambiguation page...
wave, ħ is the reduced Planck constant, and c is the speed of light in a vacuum. For the special case of a matterwave, for example an electron wave,...
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