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materiegolven

Materiegolven, commonly known as matter waves, refer to the wave-like properties that all massive particles exhibit according to quantum mechanics. The concept was introduced by Louis de Broglie in 1924, who proposed that particles have an associated wavelength inversely proportional to momentum (lambda = h/p). This wave-particle duality is described by the wave function, whose modulus squared gives the probability of finding a particle in a given region.

In nonrelativistic quantum mechanics, the wave is governed by the Schrödinger equation, and the group velocity

Experimental evidence: Electron diffraction in the Davisson–Germer experiment (1927) confirmed electron waves. Neutron interferometry and interference

Impact and applications: Matter waves underpin quantum mechanics, matter-wave interferometry, electron microscopy, atom interferometry, and precision

Interpretation and caveats: The wave describes probability amplitudes, not a physical wave in a medium. The

of
the
wave
packet
equals
the
particle's
velocity.
The
phase
velocity
can
differ
and
need
not
be
less
than
the
speed
of
light.
The
de
Broglie
relation
connects
momentum
to
wavelength,
while
energy
relates
by
E
=
p^2/2m
for
nonrelativistic
particles.
of
molecules
such
as
fullerenes
(C60)
demonstrated
interference
patterns
for
large
objects,
supporting
the
universality
of
matter
waves.
measurements.
In
ultracold
atom
physics,
coherent
matter
waves
form
Bose–Einstein
condensates
and
guide
matter
waves
in
optical
lattices.
wave
function's
interpretation
is
subject
to
measurement
and
decoherence.