Established as per the Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956

Approved by AICTE, COA and BCI, New Delhi

PHYSICS FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE

Course Code: B20AS0106

D r. A n u p a m a A V, D e p t . o f P h y s i c s , S O A S
Unit 1: Wave Mechanics
&
Quantum Physics
(Part 1) Wave Mechanics
 Lecture-1
WAVE MECHANICS
Introduction
“A wave is a disturbance that is self-sustained and propagates in space with a constant
speed”
Classification of waves

Wave

Mechanical Electromagnetic Matter (Material)

Governed by: Newton’s laws Governed by: Maxwell’s eqns Governed by: Schrodinger’s eqns
Require material medium for Do NOT require material Associated with ‘any’ moving body
propagation medium for propagation Significant for subatomic particles
Ex: Sound waves, Seismic waves  All electromagnetic waves have (p, n, e- etc.)
same velocity c=3X108 m/s
Ex: Visible, IR, UV, X-ray, Radio
waves etc.
 Lecture-1
WAVE MECHANICS
Introduction
Further, depending on orientation of disturbance wrt wave propagation velocity;

Wave

Transverse Longitudinal

Ex: Sound waves;

Ex: Mechanical
piston moving air
wave along a string
column inside a tube
 Lecture-1
WAVE MECHANICS
Wave-Particle Dualism
 An electromagnetic ‘wave’ (such as light) displays ‘particle’ nature
 An accelerating ‘particle’ (such as electron) exhibits ‘wave’ nature
 All ‘matter’ and ‘energy’ exhibit both wave-like & particle-like properties-waves
associated are called ‘Matter waves’ or ‘Pilot waves’

Particle nature Dualism Wave nature

Photoelectric effect Reflection Interference
Compton scattering Refraction Diffraction
Polarization

 Classical (Newtonian) Physics: Inadequate in describing small-scale objects (wave or particle)

 Quantum Mechanics: Efficient addressal of shortcomings of Classical Physics
 Lecture-1
WAVE MECHANICS
Matter waves
In 1921 Louis de Broglie put forward ‘de Broglie hypothesis’: addresses dual nature of matter

De Broglie hypothesis:
“All matter has wave-nature. The wavelength of matter
waves associated with a moving particle is given by λ = h/p”

     

NOTE :
p = h/ λ
p = (h/2π ) . (2π/ λ)
p = ℏk
 Lecture-1
WAVE MECHANICS
Properties of matter waves
(i) Wavelength associated with moving body λ = h/p=h/(mv)
(ii) Wavelength is inversely proportional to velocity of the moving body. Hence, body at
rest has infinite wavelength
(iii) Wavelength increases as mass decreases. Hence, matter wavelength of macro-bodies is
not observable while subatomic particles show wave nature clearly
(iv) There is no physical quantity that varies periodically with time
(v) Amplitude of matter waves at a particular space & time depends on probability of
finding particle at that space & time (Probability = IAmplitudeI2)
(vi) Matter waves are represented by wave packet made of group of waves slightly
differing in wavelength. Hence, matter waves are defined by “group velocity”; not by
“phase velocity”
(vii) Similar to any other wave, matter waves exhibit interference & diffraction
 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Expression for wavelength of an accelerated electron
When an electron of charge ‘e’ is accelerated by an electric potential ‘V’, the energy
acquired by electron is:
E=eV --- (1)
If ‘m’ and ‘v’ are mass and velocity of electron, respectively, the kinetic energy of electron is:
--- (2)

Eqn (1)=eqn (2) --- (3)

Multiply eqn (3) by 2m; --- (4)

But we know that p = mv --- (5)

Squaring eqn (5), p2 =m2v2 --- (6)
 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Expression for wavelength of an accelerated electron
(Continued…)
Eqn (4) = eqn (6) p2 = 2meV
Taking square root of the above equation, --- (7)

From de Broglie hypothesis --- (8)

Using eqn (7) in eqn (8); --- (9)

Substituting the values h = 6.626 X 10-34 J s; m = 9.1 X 10-31 kg & e = 1.602 X 10-19 C
 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Phase velocity & Group velocity
Phase velocity
“The velocity with which a reference point on a wave is propagated due to wave motion”
General representation of progressive
wave (wave equation)
where, Y is displacement along Y-axis at any time instant ‘t’ (instantaneous amplitude)
A is the maximum amplitude
ω = 2πν where ω and ν are angular & linear frequencies, respectively
k = 2π/λ where k and λ are wave number (propagation constant) & wavelength, respectively
x is the displacement along X-axis at any time instant t
Let’s consider a point ‘P’ on this progressive wave (Point ‘P’ is point of reference)

P Velocity at which point ‘P’

moves is phase velocity
 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Phase velocity & Group velocity
Phase velocity (Continued…)

In terms of wavelength (λ) and time period (T)

(Below explanation is only for reader’s understanding)

Wkt
Multiplying Ntr & Dtr of RHS by 2π, Wkt ν=1/T
Regrouping terms on RHS, Hence,
k
Or,
Hence, v= ω
 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Phase velocity & Group velocity
Group velocity
“The velocity with which an ensemble (envelope) of waves which vary slightly in
wavelength propagate in space”
The constituent waves get modulated to form envelope of waves or form ‘wave packet’
Wave 1

 In reality many individual

y1

waves (of slightly differing λ) form

Wave 2

y2

wave group

 For simplicity let’s consider

Y = y2+y1
Group wave

only two constituent waves

forming a wave group
 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Phase velocity & Group velocity
Group velocity (Continued…)
Writing equations for constituent waves;
… (1)
… (2)

Say that one of the waves differs in λ by Δλ & frequency ω by Δω. Hence, propagation
constant k differs by Δk
A is the maximum amplitude, which is same for both waves. The instantaneous
amplitudes for these waves are y1 & y2
By principle of superposition;
Y=y1+y2 or y2+y1 … (3)
Using eqns (1) & (2) in eqn (3);
Y= … (4)
 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Phase velocity & Group velocity
Group velocity (Continued…)

Eqn (4) is in the form … (5)

Applying eqn (5) n eqn (4),

On rearranging, … (6)

But Δω & Δk are too small, hence,

2ω+Δω ≈ 2ω and 2k+Δk ≈ 2k Eqn set (7)

 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Phase velocity & Group velocity
Group velocity (Continued…)
Applying eqn set (7) in eqn (6):

On simplification & rearrangement; … (7)

Comparing eqns (1) and (7); the maximum amplitude

“A” of a progressive wave is modulated as:
Velocity with which variation in amplitude is transmitted in the resultant wave is group velocity
 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Relationship between vphase and vgroup
We have equations for phase &group velocities as:
… (1) Where, ‘ω’ is angular
frequency of the wave and
… (2) ‘k’ is the wave number

Eqn (1) can be rearranged as; … (3)

Substituting eqn (3) in eqn (2);

Or,

Multiplying & dividing first

term on RHS by dλ, we get
 Lecture-2
WAVE MECHANICS
Relationship between vphase and vgroup
(Continued…)
On rearranging, … (4)

We know that … (5)

Differentiating k wrt λ,

Inverting above equation, … (6)

Substituting eqns (5) & (6) in eqn (4);

On simplification,

Is the relationship between

phase and group velocities
Thank you