Do protons also exist as proton waves similar to the electron waves ?

In summary, protons can also behave as waves, but their heavier mass results in less noticeable wave-like behavior compared to electrons. This concept was first explored in 1955 by G. Moellenstedt and H. Dueker, who created an "electron interferometer" based on their "electron biprism." The deBroglie wavelength, which is a function of momentum, explains the behavior of particles as waves. In a single slit diffraction experiment, faster moving particles have a smaller wavelength and appear more "classical." Protons in an atom do not exhibit wave-like behavior due to their movement, but when accelerated they do behave as waves with a much smaller wavelength than electrons. In the nucleus, protons have
  • #1
what_are_electrons
Do protons also exist as "proton waves" similar to the "electron waves"?

Akira Tonomura has written a book called "The Quantum World Unveiled by Electron Waves" published in 1998 by World Scientific. In his book, he explains that in 1955 G. Moellenstedt and H. Dueker of Tuebingen University in Germany were the first to make an "electron interferometer" which is based on the "electron biprism" they made.

If electrons can be made to behave as waves, can protons be made to behave as waves, "proton waves"?
 
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  • #2
Yes. Protons are much heavier, however, so their wave-like behavior is much less than the electron.
 
  • #3
well, everything has a wavelength associated with it, its just that as things get bigger and bigger, their wavelengths get smaller and smaller and pretty soon it just doesn't make noticeable difference
 
  • #4
Hurkyl said:
Yes. Protons are much heavier, however, so their wave-like behavior is much less than the electron.

Ah, but it's not just a function of mass. Remember that the deBroglie wavelength is λ=h/p. A proton can easily be made to have a smaller momentum than an electron, in which case its wavelike characteristics would be more apparent than those of the lighter electron.
 
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  • #5
Ah whoops! Oh, that is interesting; is it correct to say that the faster a particle moves, the more it acts like a classical particle? Or just less like a wave?
 
  • #6
As long as you aren't using that criterion to compare two different particle species, then I suppose that would be a fair characterization. A fast moving electron has a smaller wavelength than a slow moving electron, and as the wavelength goes to zero, the more "classical" a particle tends to act. So for instance in a single slit diffraction experiment, the fast moving electrons would have a diffraction pattern that is more strongly peaked in the middle, which is what you would expect classically.
 
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  • #7
I read electrons are really two particles combining and spliting again reapeatly. It is just particle and anti particle wave. Is this the same wave that you are talking about for the proton.

-friend of tom
 
  • #8
Yes, proton waves too exist. but in an atom you won't find it as the do not move like electrons do in an atom. But if a proton is accelerated it will behave as a wave but its wavelenght will be many times smaller than that for an electron.
 
  • #9
aekanshchumber said:
Yes, proton waves too exist. but in an atom you won't find it as the do not move like electrons do in an atom.

You're right, nuclear protons don't move like electrons. They move much faster! The tighter confines of the nuclear radius are such that the momentum of the proton lies in a wider band than the momentum of the electrons. As a result of this wavelike behavior, there is are quantized energy levels for the nucleons, just as for the electrons.
 

1. Do protons exhibit wave-like behavior?

Yes, protons exhibit both particle-like and wave-like behavior, just like electrons. This is known as wave-particle duality.

2. Are proton waves similar to electron waves?

Yes, proton waves are similar to electron waves in that they both exhibit wave-like properties, such as interference and diffraction. However, the specific characteristics of their waves may differ due to differences in mass and charge.

3. Can protons be described by a wave function?

Yes, just like electrons, protons can be described by a wave function, which is a mathematical representation of their wave-like behavior. This is a key concept in quantum mechanics.

4. How is the wavelength of a proton wave determined?

The wavelength of a proton wave is determined by its momentum, which is related to its mass and velocity. The de Broglie wavelength equation, which applies to all particles with mass, can be used to calculate the wavelength of a proton wave.

5. Are there experiments that demonstrate the wave-like behavior of protons?

Yes, there are several experiments that demonstrate the wave-like behavior of protons, such as the double-slit experiment and the diffraction of protons through crystals. These experiments provide evidence for the existence of proton waves.

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