The matter wave dispersion relation given in equation (6-23) is correct only at low speed and when mass/internal energy is ignored.

(a) Using the relativistically correct relationship among energy, momentum and mass, show that the correct dispersion relation is

ω=k2c2+m2c42

(b) Show that in the limit of low speed (small p and k) and ignoring mass/internal energy, this expression aggress with that of equation (6-23).

Short Answer

Expert verified

(a) The correct matter wave dispersion relation ω=k2c2+m2c42 is proved.

(b) The equation (6-23) agrees with correct dispersion relationship at low speed.

Step by step solution

01

Matter Waves

The matter waves are used to relationship between momentum and wavelength of particle. If the wavelength of the particle is high then momentum of particle is low.

02

Proof for correct dispersion relation

(a)

The energy of the particle of matter wave is given as:

E=ω

Here, ωis the angular frequency of matter wave

The momentum of the particle of matter wave is given as:

p=k

Here, k is the wave number for matter wave

The relativistically correct relation among energy, momentum and mass is given as:

E2=p2c2+m2c4

Substitute all the values in the above equation.

ω2=k2c2+m2c42ω2=2k2c2+m2c4ω2=k2c2+m2c42ω=k2c2+m2c42

Therefore, the correct matter wave dispersion relation is proved.

03

Proof for matter waves at low speed

(b)

The wavelength of the matter wave becomes higher if momentum is low at low speed. The internal energy of the wave is also ignored so the correct dispersion relationship holds good and equation (6-23) agrees with correct dispersion relationship at low speed.

Therefore, the equation (6-23) agrees with correct dispersion relationship at low speed.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Your friend has just finished classical physics and can’t wait to know what lies ahead. Keeping extraneous ideas and postulates to a minimum, Explain the process of Quantum-mechanical tunneling.

Suppose the tunneling probability is10-12for a wide barrier when E is 1100U0

(a) About how much smaller would it be if ’E’ were instead 11000U0?

(b) If this case does not support the general rule that transmission probability is a sensitive function of E, what makes it exceptional?

To obtain a rough estimate of the mean time required for uranium-238 to alpha-decay, let us approximate the combined electrostatic and strong nuclear potential energies by rectangular potential barrier half as high as the actual 35 Mev maximum potential energy. Alpha particles (mass 4 u) of 4.3 Mev kinetic energy are incident. Let us also assume that the barrier extends from the radius of nucleus, 7.4 fm to the point where the electrostatic potential drops to 4.3 Mev (i.e., the classically forbidden region). Because Uα(1/r), this point is 35/4.3 times the radius of the nucleus, the point at which U(r) is 35 Mev. (a) Use these crude approximations, the method suggested in Section 6.3, and the wide-barrier approximation to obtain a value for the time it takes to decay. (b) To gain some appreciation of the difficulties in a theoretical prediction, work the exercise “backward” Rather than assuming a value for U0, use the known value of the mean time to decay for uranium-238 and infer the corresponding value of U0, Retain all other assumptions. (c) Comment on the sensitivity of the decay time to the height of the potential barrier.

For a general wave pulse neither E nor p (i.eneither ωnor k)areweIldefined. But they have approximate values E0andp0. Although it comprisemany plane waves, the general pulse has an overall phase velocity corresponding to these values.

vphase=ω0k0=E0/hp0/h=E0p0

If the pulse describes a large massive particle. The uncertaintiesarereasonably small, and the particle may be said to have energy E0and momentum p0.Usingtherelativisticallycorrect expressions for energy and momentum. Show that the overall phase velocity is greater thancand given by

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Could the situation depicted in the following diagram represent a particle in a bound state? Explain.

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