| Adapted for the Internet from: Why God Doesn't Exist |
The wave fought the particle back with the same tenacity. In 1923, DeBroglie 57 developed an equation that
would resuscitate the dying wave theory, ironically, in the context of particles. DeBroglie discovered that
the electron, like the photon, also exhibits wave-like behavior and can be considered to be dispersed in an
integral number of waves around the nucleus of the atom (Fig. 3.22). The modern mechanics explain:
- “ If we begin to think of electrons as waves, we’ll have to change our whole concept of what an ‘orbit’
is. Instead of having a little particle whizzing around the nucleus in a circular path, we’d have a wave
sort of strung out around the whole circle. Now, the only way such a wave could exist is if a whole
number of its wavelengths fit exactly around the circle. If the circumference is exactly as long as two
wavelengths, say, or three or four or five, that’s great, but two and a half won’t cut it.” 58
Davisson and Germer 59 confirmed DeBroglie’s matter waves experimentally in 1925, when they
demonstrated that electrons reflected off a Nickel target also exhibited diffraction patterns. Until then, it was
thought that only light waves could produce diffraction. Schrodinger 60 improved on DeBroglie’s matter
waves by developing equations that allow us to determine the probability of finding an electron in a given
region around the nucleus.
- “ Wave functions are often interpreted as describing the probability of finding their corresponding
particle at a given point in space at a given time.” 61
| The ribbon atom! |
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- Last modified 01/01/08
- Copyright © by Nila Gaede 2008
| The atom is like Saturn, Bill. It has a hula hoop permanently skirting its waist. More complex atoms have more hoops. |
Fig. 3.22 DeBroglie’s Electron Waves |
| The electron doesn’t fall towards the nucleus as Thomson predicted because it also behaves like a wave. This electron has an integral number of waves and can occupy only a certain region around the nucleus. This model also simultaneously accounts for Bohr’s quantum jump and Thomson’s stability concerns. |