Question regarding de Broglie wavelength.

[Polyrix]

Hi there,


Is it possible if an object were to hypothetically gain enough momentum such that its de Broglie wavelength is equivalent to, say, some light in the visible spectrum, that the object would emit light?


Thanks!

 

[Dale]

The de Broglie wavelength is not the wavelength of radiation emitted by a particle. But yes, if a massive particle had the same momentum as a photon in the visible range then its de Broglie wavelength would be the same as the wavelength of a photon in the visible range.

 

[vin300]

If the mass had no momentum, its wavelength would be infinite, but what would that mean?

 

[Dale]

It would mean that you couldn't do a double-slit experiment with it.

 

[jtbell]

If the mass had no momentum, its wavelength would be infinite, but what would that mean?

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=2523106&postcount=2

 

[GRDixon]

If the mass had no momentum, its wavelength would be infinite, but what would that mean?

itbell nailed it. But if the momentum was very small, it would mean the deBroglie wavelength was large. Radiation of an equal wavelength would interact with matter via very low energy photons.

 

[Dale]

No, the deBroglie wavelength is not the wavelength of EM radiation emitted by a massive particle nor is it a wavelength of EM radiation absorbed by a massive particle. A large deBroglie wavelength essentially means that you would need a large double-slit experiment in order to see interference fringes.

 

[Frame Dragger]

It's pretty intuitive actually, much as you can envision it a radio wave vs. a microwave. in terms of wavelength and how that effects its reception by various forms of matter.