A feasible experiment that can decide

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter martillo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Experiment
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of modifying the Davisson-Germer experiment to test the validity of Relativity Theory, particularly in relation to the De Broglie wavelength formula. Participants explore the implications of using higher electron velocities and the potential for new experimental setups.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the original Davisson-Germer experiment could be modified to test whether the mass of electrons varies with velocity, as proposed by Relativity Theory.
  • Another participant counters that relativity has been extensively tested and has consistently succeeded, questioning the need for a "final test."
  • Some participants express confusion about the necessity of the proposed experiment, noting that electron guns already accelerate electrons to high fractions of the speed of light.
  • There is a discussion about the historical context of the Davisson-Germer experiment and its relation to other experiments that have already verified electron diffraction at higher energies.
  • One participant emphasizes that special relativity is relevant at all speeds, including very low velocities, and discusses the implications for the de Broglie wave behavior.
  • Another participant mentions the use of polarized electrons in modern experiments, suggesting that the technology and understanding of electron behavior have advanced significantly since the original experiment.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the novelty of the proposed experiment, pointing out that high-energy electron diffraction is routine in contemporary physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the necessity and novelty of the proposed experiment, with some asserting that relativity has already been sufficiently tested, while others believe that further exploration could yield valuable insights. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific modifications suggested and their potential impact on testing Relativity Theory.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various historical experiments and their results, indicating a lack of consensus on the applicability of the De Broglie formula in relativistic contexts. There are also mentions of technological advancements in electron acceleration that may not align with the original proposal.

  • #31
Zapperz,
I'm searching on RHEED (Reflection High Energy Electron Diffraction) now.
I haven't found about it before.
May be this is what I'm looking for!
Thanks for the key word.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
Zapperz,
I have made an extensive web search about RHEED experimentation.
I can see that electrons are accelerated to very high energies, they are diffracted by thin surfaces and a CCD camera (or equivalent detector) is used to capture diffracted images that are very very small due to de very small wavelenght2 of the electrons. After this stages the digitalized images are sent to a computer for image processing and análisis.

For example we can visit: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5702/Fe_Si.html"

I can see that in all the visited pages the interest of the researchers is focused on the images they obtain to deduce the properties of the chrystaline surfaces and not the análisis of the data necessary to verify De Broglie's formula.
In the amplification of the images the real magnitude of the distances between the diffraction "spots" that appear is lost!
I can state that the verification of the De Broglie for relativistic mass haven't been done yet!

I realize now that all the technology necessary to do the experiment I propose is available, just only the goal to verify the De Broglie formula must rise!

I strongly believe it is very important to do the verification of the dependency of mass with the velocity by a RHEED experiment and the De Broglie formula.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #33
martillo said:
Zapperz,
I have made an extensive web search about RHEED experimentation.
I can see that electrons are accelerated to very high energies, they are diffracted by thin surfaces and a CCD camera (or equivalent detector) is used to capture diffracted images that are very very small due to de very small wavelenght2 of the electrons. After this stages the digitalized images are sent to a computer for image processing and análisis.
For example we can visit: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5702/Fe_Si.html"
I can see that in all the visited pages the interest of the researchers is focused on the images they obtain to deduce the properties of the chrystaline surfaces and not the análisis of the data necessary to verify De Broglie's formula.
In the amplification of the images the real magnitude of the distances between the diffraction "spots" that appear is lost!
I can state that the verification of the De Broglie for relativistic mass haven't been done yet!
I realize now that all the technology necessary to do the experiment I propose is available, just only the goal to verify the De Broglie formula must rise!
I strongly believe it is very important to do the verification of the dependency of mass with the velocity by a RHEED experiment and the De Broglie formula.

Something is seriously wrong with your understanding, and what I have said earlier is NOT getting through.

Read this VERY CAREFULLY: if the relativistic description is WRONG, what we USED RHEED for, and all other experiments, would give us NONSENSICAL ANSWERS. This would render all of these experiments useless. It is why I told you earlier that without relativistic corrections, my measurement of the energy of the electrons in the accelerator would be BOGUS!

You are blind to the clear evidence that the fact that we DO use these thing to study OTHER things, means that we fully understand how they work and the principle behind them! If we do not, we have zero confidence in using them, and how they behave! Every single applications of physics principles come from knowing what they behave like! We used RHEED because we ALREADY know the relativistic effects VERY WELL! If not, what I measure from experiment and deduce into practical values will be nonsense! The diffraction results will not give me the correct lattice constant, and if I try to use that result to do stuff with, I get garbage!

Why don't you try it? Start with a wrong premise, and then using that premise, get some parameters out of an experiment. Now use those parameters as the basis of your understanding and apply those to a different situation. You'll get puzzling results, as puzzling as what you're trying to argue here.

I've asked you repeatedly to show such an effect beyond such relativistic effects. You have continued to ignore my request. As of now, this thread is done. Any further line of argument based on this issue must be done in the IR section.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
  • · Replies 144 ·
5
Replies
144
Views
9K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
8K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 50 ·
2
Replies
50
Views
11K
  • · Replies 93 ·
4
Replies
93
Views
13K