De Broglie & Light: My Doubt - Einstein's Calc

In summary, the conversation discusses the use of different formulas for photons and their relationship to classical physics. It is mentioned that the classical formula for momentum, p=mv, cannot be used for photons and instead, three formulas are useful. The conversation also explores the concept of relativistic mass and how it differs from rest mass. Finally, the possibility of deriving the formula E^2 = (m_0 c^2)^2 + (p c)^2 independently is mentioned.
  • #1
ankitpandey
32
0
i have a doubt... can someone please tell me where i am going wrong?
by Einsteins calculations, rest mass of photon or something moving with v=c has zero rest mass, else its mass at motion tends to infinity, which is not possible. NOW substituting this in de broglies wavelenght eqn,
lambda=h/mv
=h/mc (for photon moving with light speed)
=h/0*c (since rest mass of the photon is zero)
=infinity
but for no photon it is possible that wavelenght is infinite. please tell my mistake.
 
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  • #2
ankitpandey said:
please tell my mistake.

The formula [itex] p = mv [/itex] is from non-relativistic physics. It cannot be used for photons. Three formulas are useful for photons. One formula connects momentum p and energy E

[tex] E = pc [/tex]

(this is, actually, a limiting case of the most general formula [tex] E = \sqrt{m^2c^4 + p^2c^2} [/tex] when [itex] m = 0 [/itex])

Another formula connects photon's energy with the light frequency

[tex] E = h \nu[/tex]

The wavelength can be obtained by the third equation

[tex] \lambda = \frac{c}{\nu} = \frac{h c}{E} = \frac{h}{p}[/tex]

Eugene.
 
  • #3
[added... aha, I now see that Eugene was typing at the same time that I was!]

The classical formula for momentum, p = mv, doesn't work in relativity, at least not when m is the "rest mass" as you're using it.

The general relationship between energy, momentum and rest mass in relativity is [itex]E^2 = (pc)^2 + (mc^2)^2[/itex]. For a photon, m = 0 so this becomes E = pc or p = E/c. So, starting with de Broglie's formula:

[tex]\lambda = \frac{h}{p} = \frac{hc}{E}[/tex]

Now use Planck's equation E = hf:

[tex]\lambda = \frac{hc}{hf} = \frac{c}{f}[/tex]

which is just the familiar wave equation [itex]c = f \lambda[/itex].
 
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  • #4
I believe Mr. deBroglie was the first to propose this very fact, btw.
 
  • #5
meopemuk said:
The formula [itex] p = mv [/itex] is from non-relativistic physics. It cannot be used for photons.

sure it can. you use relativistic mass.

[tex] m = \frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} [/tex]

where [itex]m_0[/itex] is the rest mass.

Three formulas are useful for photons. One formula connects momentum p and energy E

[tex] E = pc [/tex]

(this is, actually, a limiting case of the most general formula [tex] E = \sqrt{m_0^2c^4 + p^2c^2} [/tex] when [itex] m_0 = 0 [/itex])

and that can derived from:[tex] m = \frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} [/tex][tex] E = m c^2 [/tex]

and

[tex] p = m v [/tex]

or you can start with

[tex] E^2 = m_0^2 c^4 + p^2 c^2 [/tex]

solve for momentum, and define the inertial mass to be whatever the momentum of the body is (from the POV of some other inertial frame of reference) divided by the velocity (from the POV of the same inertial frame of reference), and you will get a quantity of dimension mass. that mass, when multiplied by [itex]c^2[/itex], is the total energy (rest energy plus kinetic energy) of the body from the POV of that same inertial frame of reference. and that mass fits the relativistic mass formula above. don't know why the concept of relativistic mass is so deprecated here.

Another formula connects photon's energy with the light frequency

[tex] E = h \nu [/tex]

The wavelength can be obtained by the third equation

[tex] \lambda = \frac{c}{\nu} = \frac{h c}{E} = \frac{h}{p} [/tex]
 
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  • #6
rbj said:
[tex] m = \frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} [/tex]


[tex] E = m c^2 [/tex]

and

[tex] p = m v [/tex]

There are two equivalent approaches to relativistic kinematics. These approaches differ by the way they define mass. In your approach mass is defined as a velocity-dependent quantity. In my approach, the rest mass (which is independent on the velocity of the body or velocity of the observer) is used everywhere. Formulas can be written both ways, but physical meaning doesn't change.

Eugene.
 
  • #7
meopemuk said:
There are two equivalent approaches to relativistic kinematics. These approaches differ by the way they define mass. In your approach mass is defined as a velocity-dependent quantity. In my approach, the rest mass (which is independent on the velocity of the body or velocity of the observer) is used everywhere. Formulas can be written both ways, but physical meaning doesn't change.

i don't know if the two approaches are equivalent pedagogically.

i know how to start with:

[tex] m = \frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} [/tex]

[tex] E = m c^2 [/tex]

[tex] p = m v [/tex]

and get:

[tex] E^2 = (m_0 c^2)^2 + (p c)^2 [/tex] .

but i do not know how to get the bottom equation independently (although i realize that this is likely done in a formal SR class). but, even if you do come up with it independently, then you define inertial mass as whatever scaler you need to multiply the velocity vector with to get the momentum vector (from the POV of the inertial frame of reference that this body with rest mass [itex]m_0[/itex], is flying by). that's what the definition is, allowing for the possibility for it to be a function of velocity, but velocity dependent is not in the definition, but is a consequence of the definition (momentum divided by velocity) and further derivation.
 
  • #8
rbj said:
i know how to start with:

[tex] m = \frac{m_0}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} [/tex]

[tex] E = m c^2 [/tex]

[tex] p = m v [/tex]

and get:

[tex] E^2 = (m_0 c^2)^2 + (p c)^2 [/tex] .

but i do not know how to get the bottom equation independently (although i realize that this is likely done in a formal SR class).

Such an independent derivation can be done within Wigner's theory of unitary representations of the Poincare group. (This theory is usually formulated within relativistic quantum mechanics, but it is also possible to do a purely classical derivation). This derivation involves the following major steps:

1. The Hilbert space of any isolated system carries an unitary representation of the Poincare group.

2. Representations corresponding to elementary particles are irreducible.

3. Generators of time and space translations in this representation ([itex]H [/itex] and [itex] \mathbf{P} [/itex], respectively) are identified with Hermitian operators of energy and momentum.

4. It can be shown that operator [tex] M = c^{-2}\sqrt{H^2 - \mathbf{P}^2c^2} [/tex] commutes with all generators of the Poincare group (it is one of the two Casimir invariants), so it corresponds to an invariant property, which is naturally identified with the rest mass of the system.

5. It then follows that [tex] H = \sqrt{M^2c^4 + \mathbf{P}^2c^2}[/tex]

Eugene.
 
  • #9
new q

k i thank everyone. but i have another doubt. energy of de broglie waves of matter much slower than light will be hc/lambda or hv/lambda? or no rule has been discovered so far
 
  • #10
ankitpandey said:
k i thank everyone. but i have another doubt. energy of de broglie waves of matter much slower than light will be hc/lambda or hv/lambda? or no rule has been discovered so far

Use the second de broglie relation:

[tex]E = hf[/tex]

[tex]\gamma mc^2 = hf[/tex]

[tex]f = \gamma mc^2/h[/tex]

The first de broglie relation:

[tex]\lambda = \frac{h}{\gamma mv}[/tex]

multiplying the two (f by lambda), we get

phase velocity = [tex]\frac{c^2}{v}[/tex]

where v is the velocity of the particle of matter.

this is a "phase velocity"... it doesn't violate special relativity.
 
  • #11
rbj said:
...

[tex] E^2 = (m_0 c^2)^2 + (p c)^2 [/tex] .

but i do not know how to get the bottom equation independently (although i realize that this is likely done in a formal SR class). but, even if you do come up with it independently, then you define inertial mass as whatever scaler you need to multiply the velocity vector with to get the momentum vector (from the POV of the inertial frame of reference that this body with rest mass [itex]m_0[/itex], is flying by). that's what the definition is, allowing for the possibility for it to be a function of velocity, but velocity dependent is not in the definition, but is a consequence of the definition (momentum divided by velocity) and further derivation.

You are correct, and your explanation in fact shows a way to derive the bottom equation "independently." Start with ds^2 = (cdt)^2 - dx^2 and divide through by dt^2 to get velocities, (ds/dt)^2 = c^2 - v^2. Now multiply by a quantity m that has the property mds/dt = invariant. m is the relativistic mass and mds/dt is the rest mass * c. This then gives (E/c)^2 = (mo*c)^2 + (mv)^2, as required. Maybe not rigorous, but the essence is there.
 
  • #12
thanks learninphysics n countryboy... so then i guess it must be correct to
say MC^2=HC^2/LAMBDA*V where V is velocity of particle of matter right?thanks
a lot
 
  • #13
ankitpandey said:
thanks learninphysics n countryboy... so then i guess it must be correct to
say MC^2=HC^2/LAMBDA*V where V is velocity of particle of matter right?thanks
a lot

Yes. This also comes easily from the expression for the de Broglie group velocity v:

v = c^2/(lambda*frequency)

frequency = c^2/(lambda*v)

mc^2 = E = h*frequency = hc^2/(lambda*v)
 
  • #14
from that we can derieve lambda=h/mv -de broglie eqn.
so then i guess this is a safe conclusion-
lambda=h/mv is true with m as rest mass
in case of all non-zero-rest-mass particles
and also true with m as mass at motion in case of
zero-rest-mass particles like photons. i want to
confirm this by receiving a reply from you.
 
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  • #15
ankitpandey said:
... i guess this is a safe conclusion-
lambda=h/mv is true with m as rest mass in case of all non-zero-rest-mass particles ...

m is the total relativistic mass. This applies to both zero and non-zero rest mass particles.
 

1. What is the De Broglie equation and what does it represent?

The De Broglie equation, also known as the de Broglie relation, is a mathematical equation that relates the wavelength (λ) of a particle to its momentum (p). It is represented as λ = h/p, where h is Planck's constant. This equation is significant because it shows that particles, such as electrons, have both wave-like and particle-like properties.

2. How did De Broglie's work contribute to our understanding of light?

De Broglie's work showed that not only do particles have wave-like properties, but that light also has particle-like properties. This idea, known as wave-particle duality, was a major breakthrough in the study of quantum mechanics. It helped to explain many phenomena, such as the photoelectric effect, and laid the foundation for the development of quantum mechanics.

3. What was Einstein's role in the development of the De Broglie equation?

Einstein's theory of relativity, specifically his famous equation E = mc², played a crucial role in the development of the De Broglie equation. De Broglie used this equation to propose that if energy (E) could be converted into mass (m), then mass could also be converted into energy. This led to the idea that particles, such as electrons, could have wave-like properties.

4. What is the significance of the De Broglie wavelength in quantum mechanics?

The De Broglie wavelength is significant in quantum mechanics because it is used to describe the wave-like nature of particles. It is also used to determine the probability of a particle's position in wave mechanics. This concept is crucial in understanding the behavior of subatomic particles and has important applications in fields such as particle physics and nanotechnology.

5. How does the De Broglie equation relate to the uncertainty principle?

The De Broglie equation is closely related to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, which states that the more precisely we know a particle's position, the less we know about its momentum, and vice versa. The De Broglie equation shows that the wavelength of a particle is inversely proportional to its momentum. Therefore, the more we know about a particle's momentum, the less we know about its wavelength, and vice versa. This relationship between position and momentum is a fundamental principle in quantum mechanics.

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