Are electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength the same thing?

In summary, the conversation discusses the classical and quantum pictures of electromagnetic waves and their respective wavelengths. It is questioned whether the wavelength of the de Broglie wave function of a photon is the same as the classical wavelength of the electromagnetic wave. The concept of matter waves and their lack of electric and magnetic fields is also mentioned. Ultimately, the conversation does not find a deeper reason for this similarity between classical and quantum.
  • #1
Jehannum
102
26
TL;DR Summary
A simple enough question not to need a summary - I hope
The classical picture of the electromagnetic wave has electric and magnetic field oscillations which give the wavelength of the light. In the quantum picture, is the wavelength of the (de Broglie) wave function of the photon the same thing?
 
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  • #3
Yes.
 
  • #4
Is it suprising that something normally taken to be non physical (the wavefunction regarded as a probability amplitude) has a physical manifestation (electric / magnetic field oscillations)? What's the deeper reason behind this? Are there any other instances where classical and quantum are the same in this way?
 
  • #5
Matter waves have no magnetic and electric fields so no. They are not the same thing as electromagnetic waves.
Matter waves are inferred whereas electromagnetic waves can be and are measured directly.
 
  • #6
I think you are reading too much into this. Are electromagnetic wavelength and water wavelength the same thing?
 
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1. What is the difference between electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength?

Electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength are two different ways of measuring the same phenomenon - the distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs of an electromagnetic wave. The main difference is that electromagnetic wavelength is a macroscopic concept, used to describe the behavior of large-scale electromagnetic waves, while quantum wavelength is a microscopic concept, used to describe the behavior of particles on a quantum level.

2. Can electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength be used interchangeably?

No, electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength cannot be used interchangeably. While they both measure the distance between consecutive peaks or troughs of an electromagnetic wave, they are used in different contexts and have different meanings. Electromagnetic wavelength is used to describe the behavior of electromagnetic waves, while quantum wavelength is used to describe the behavior of particles on a quantum level.

3. How are electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength related?

Electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength are related in that they both measure the same phenomenon - the distance between consecutive peaks or troughs of an electromagnetic wave. However, they are used in different contexts and have different meanings. Electromagnetic wavelength is used to describe the behavior of large-scale electromagnetic waves, while quantum wavelength is used to describe the behavior of particles on a quantum level.

4. Why is it important to understand the difference between electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength?

Understanding the difference between electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength is important because it helps us understand the behavior of both macroscopic and microscopic systems. It also allows us to accurately describe and predict the behavior of electromagnetic waves and particles on a quantum level, which has important applications in various fields such as telecommunications, electronics, and quantum computing.

5. How are electromagnetic wavelength and quantum wavelength measured?

Electromagnetic wavelength is typically measured in meters or other units of length, while quantum wavelength is measured in units of energy, such as electron volts (eV) or joules (J). The measurement of electromagnetic wavelength involves using instruments such as a ruler, while the measurement of quantum wavelength involves using advanced techniques such as spectroscopy or quantum tunneling.

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