Electron Diffraction & de-Broglie Wavelength

Wave-Particle Duality

Wave-particle duality is a fundamental concept in physics that describes how particles like electrons exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties.

This duality is crucial in understanding phenomena such as electron diffraction and the de-Broglie wavelength.

Electron Diffraction

• Concept: Electron diffraction occurs when a beam of electrons is directed at a thin material, and the electrons are scattered in a pattern that resembles wave interference.
• Evidence of Wave Nature: The diffraction pattern produced is similar to that of light waves, supporting the idea that electrons have wave-like properties.
• Applications: Electron diffraction is used in studying the structure of materials at the atomic level.

de-Broglie Wavelength

The de-Broglie wavelength is a concept that assigns a wavelength to a particle based on its momentum, illustrating its wave-like behavior.

The de-Broglie wavelength $\lambda$ of a particle is given by the equation:

$$\lambda = \frac{h}{p}$$

• $\lambda$ is the de-Broglie wavelength
• $h$ is Planck's constant $(6.63 \times 10^{-34} \text{ Js})$
• $p$ is the momentum of the particle $(p = mv)$