does electron oscillate in vaccum?

[DeveshB]

does electron oscillate when its kept in space with no type of field or anything present .... and what does electric wave represent ? does it represent the type of motion a test charge will execute .

[tiny-tim]

Hi DeveshB ! Welcome to PF! :wink:
.... and what does electric wave represent ? does it represent the type of motion a test charge will execute .

No such thing as an electric wave.

(And an electromagnetic wave involves photons (light), not electrons.)
does electron oscillate when its kept in space with no type of field or anything present

hmm … there's something called "zitterbewegung" which I never go the hang of :redface: … I suggest you wiki or google it. :smile:

[DeveshB]

sorry, i was talking about one of the components of electromagnetic waves--the electric field which is in the form of a wave, and as electric field is represented by 'electric lines of force' does it mean a test charge kept there would move in wave form? , as electric lines of force also represent the path traced by a test charge.

[tiny-tim]

sorry, i was talking about one of the components of electromagnetic waves--the electric field which is in the form of a wave, and as electric field is represented by 'electric lines of force' does it mean a test charge kept there would move in wave form? , as electric lines of force also represent the path traced by a test charge.

oh i see now …

yes, an electron in an electromagnetic field will experience continuously changing electric and magnetic fields (you can't separate the electric field out), and although the average effect should be zero, the electron will jiggle about very slightly on a very small time-scale. :smile: