What is the frequency of an electron wave?

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

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 , 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 Schrödinger equation gives the incorrect expression. We argue that the electron frequency should be discussed at the introductory level.
Original languageEnglish
Article number045401
JournalEuropean Journal of Physics
Volume37
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 28 2016

Keywords

  • frequency
  • phase velocity
  • wave property

Cite this