Characteristics of Matter Waves

Characteristics of Matter Waves

According to de-Broglie a moving material particle sometimes acts as a wave and sometimes as a particle. The wave associated with moving particle is called matter wave or de-Broglie wave and it propagates in the form of wave packets with group velocity.

1) Matter wave represents the probability of finding a particle in space.

2) Matter waves are not electromagnetic in nature.

3) de-Broglie or matter wave is independent of the charge on the material particle. It means, matter wave of de-Broglie wave is associated with every moving particle (whether charged or uncharged).

4) Practical observation of matter waves is possible only when the de-Broglie wavelength is of the order of the size of the particles.  

5) Electron microscope works on the basis of de-Broglie waves.

6) The phase velocity of the matter waves can be greater than the speed of the light.

7) Matter waves can propagate in vacuum; hence they are not mechanical waves.

8) The number of de-Broglie waves associated with nth orbital electron is n.

9) Only those circular orbits around the nucleus are stable whose circumference is integral multiple of de-Broglie wavelength associated with the orbital electron.