Wave-Particle Duality in Matter: Historical Experiments

• In 1924, Louis de Broglie hypothesized that all matter has both wave and particle characteristics.
• In 1927, physicists CJ Davisson and LH Germer experimentally proved the wave nature of material particles using an electron gun and a nickel chloride crystal.
• Their experimental setup included an electron gun with a tungsten filament and high and low tension batteries, a detector, and a crystal target.
• The electrons, acting like waves, exhibited constructive interference at certain angles, indicated by a peak in intensity on a graph.
• The intensity of scattering depended on the angle between incident and scattered directions (Phi) and the accelerating potential difference.
• A distinct bump or kink occurred in the curve when Phi was equal to 50 degrees, which increased at 54 volts and then decreased.
• This peak indicated the wave behavior of electrons and verified de Broglie's hypothesis of the wave nature of matter particles.

Explore the historical experiments that demonstrated the wave-particle duality of matter, including the work of Louis de Broglie and the experimental proof by CJ Davisson and LH Germer using an electron gun and a nickel chloride crystal.