Applications of De Broglie Waves

The de Broglie waves are founded on the concept that all matter behaves in a wavelike manner. The de Broglie wavelength is a relationship between particle wavelength and momentum. It explains a wide range of phenomena. It’s used to figure out how likely it is to find an object at a specific position in the configuration space.

De Broglie waves are also employed in the creation of electron microscopes, which is an important application. This is owing to the fact that electrons behave like waves and may thus be utilised to illuminate objects in a similar fashion to light.

De Broglie Waves

Quantum physics is built on the foundation of matter waves. Louis de Broglie, a French physicist, was the first to investigate this phenomenon. In 1924, he proposed the de Broglie theory. He claimed that electrons have a wave-like character in his theory. He claimed that matter has two personalities. Everything exists in two forms: as a particle and as a wave. However, in comparison to electrons, the wavelength of everyday items is too little, and they go undetected. As a result, ordinary items are only thought to exhibit particle-like behaviour, and the de Broglie hypothesis only applies to subatomic particles.

The de Broglie theory explains the occurrence of subatomic particles at unexpected locations. Because the vibrations of these subatomic particles penetrate deep into the barriers, just like sound does through walls, this is the case. Using the example of a heavy atomic nucleus, this can be understood. We know it can eject a piece of itself through alpha decay. However, the energy of this alpha particle will be inadequate to penetrate and overcome the force barrier that surrounds the nucleus. However, because this alpha particle is a wave, it can get through that barrier and so has a limited chance of being discovered outside the nucleus.

Applications of de Broglie waves

De Broglie waves are applied in the building of electron microscopes, which is a very important application. Because electrons behave like waves, they may be used to illuminate objects in a similar fashion to light. Energy is sent to electrons in a similar way to how it is delivered to TV tubes. The electrons are then focussed to form an image of that precise object using magnetic fields. Kinetic energies are connected to de Broglie wavelengths of electrons. Wavelengths as small as 100000 times the wavelength of visible light can be seen with electron microscopy. This aids an electron microscope’s ability to expose extremely fine details. In biology labs, electron microscopes are often used to investigate minute organisms like bacteria and viruses.

Double-slit interference pattern

• The double-slit experiment shows that light and matter can have properties that are both conventionally defined waves and particles, as well as demonstrating the essentially probabilistic nature of quantum mechanical events. 

• The experiment is part of a larger category known as “double route” experiments, in which a wave is split into two independent waves that eventually unite to form a single wave. A phase shift occurs when the travel lengths of both waves change, resulting in an interference pattern. Another type is the Mach–Zehnder interferometer, which uses a beam splitter to split the beam.

Electron microscopes

The Wave nature of electrons is used in an electron microscope. According to the Davisson Germer experiment, a potential of only 54V can generate electrons with wavelengths substantially shorter than visible light (hundreds of nanometres). Optical microscopes are used to detect considerably larger details, but electron microscopes are used to detect much smaller details.

Electron microscopes are divided into two categories:

• Scanning electron microscope (SEM) 

• Transmission electron microscope (TEM) 

The electrons emitted from a hot filament are accelerated by the transmission electron microscope (TEM) (the cathode). A sample is passed through an electron beam that has been widened. The picture is focused onto a fluorescent screen, a photographic plate, or a light-sensitive camera, and then sent to a computer for analysis via a magnetic lens. This microscope is designed in the same way as an optical microscope, but it requires a tiny sample to be studied in a vacuum.

The secondary electrons created by the primary beam interacting with the sample’s surface are used in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The beam is focused onto the sample using magnetic lenses. It scans the sample in all directions by electronically moving the beam around. Each electron position’s data is processed using a detector.

Conclusion

The de Broglie waves are founded on the concept that all matter behaves in a wavelike manner. De Broglie waves are also employed in the creation of electron microscopes, which is an important application. The de Broglie theory explains the occurrence of subatomic particles at unexpected locations. The Wave nature of electrons is used in an electron microscope. The electrons emitted from a hot filament are accelerated by the transmission electron microscope (TEM) (the cathode). The secondary electrons created by the primary beam interacting with the sample’s surface are used in the scanning electron microscope (SEM).