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What is the Frequency of an Electron Wave?

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Particle-wave duality is a central tenet of quantum physics, and an electron has wave-like properties. Introductory texts discuss the wavelength-momentum relationship lambda = h/p, but do not discuss the frequency-energy relationship. This is curious since a wave is periodic both in space and time. The discussion in more advanced texts is not satisfactory either since two different expressions for the frequency are given based on the relativistic and non-relativistic expression for the electron energy. The relativistic expression yields the correct frequency, and we explain why the expression based on the Schrodinger equation gives the incorrect expression. We argue that the electron frequency should be discussed at the introductory level.

    Original languageAmerican English
    JournalEuropean Journal of Physics
    Volume37
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jul 1 2016

    Keywords

    • wave property; frequency; phase velocity

    Disciplines

    • Physics
    • Quantum Physics

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