de Broglie Wavelength

Relates a particle-like property (p)

to a wave-like property (l)

particle wave function

 Example: de Broglie wavelength of an electron and a ball

• Mass = 9.11 x 10-31 kg

Speed = 106 m / sec
6.63 10−34 Joules  sec
l= −31 6
= 7.28 10−10m
(9.11 10 kg)(10 m/sec)
This wavelength is in the region of X-rays

 Mass = 1 kg
Speed = 1 m / sec
6.63 10−34 Joules  sec
l= = 6.63 10−34m
(1 kg)(1 m/sec)
This is extremely small. Thus, it is very difficult to observe the wave-like
behaviour of ordinary objects (e.g. a ball)
 Thermal wavelength
h
de Broglie wavelength l0 =
p0
h : Planck constant = 6,62610-34 J s
p0 : the average, root mean square value of momentum

8kT 8mkT h 
The average of p0 = m = l0 =
momentum m  8mkT
root mean square
of momentum
2
 h 
2  
2  2
 2  h2 h
Thermal wavelength l= = = =
mkT mkT 2mkT 2mkT

where the numerical factors are chosen to give a neater appearance to some
formulas*
n is the density, l Is thermal wavelength

Quantum effects become important at temperatures lower than the

"degeneracy temperature" T0 corresponding to

Quantum degeneracy temperatures

The temperature-density plane

 32
 N  h 
2
A guide to Statistical Physics A =     1
(Tony Guenault: Statistical Physics)  V  2mkT 

l Is thermal wavelength

The problem of Kinetic Theory

(K Huang: Statistical Mechanics)
 Assembly of N identical particles
A guide to Volume V, Temperature T.

Statistical Physics
(Tony Guenault: Statistical Physics)
Are the particles weakly interacting?

Yes No

Gaseous particles? A larger view- ensembles

dealing with interactions
No Yes

32
N  h2 
Distinguishable particles A =   <<1 ?
V  2mkT 
F =−NkT lnZ

Yes No

use MB statistics is  antisymmetric (A) or

ZN 
F = −kT ln   symmetric (S) ?
 N! 

A S

use FD statistics use BE statistics

It is given a monatomic ideal gas system: N identical particles,
volume V ,
temperature T,
mass of each particle m.
The system satisfies the M-B statistics.

The number of quantum states in the energy range  and + d  =

p2
2m
V 2 (2m )
3/ 2
2m 
g () d =
p
d = dp =
1/ 2 d  m m
dp
h3 m
dp = d
The number of particles in the energy range  and  + d  2m 

g ()d  g ()d 
N () d = →
g ()d    −    − 
N () d = exp   1 exp 
  −   kT   kT 
exp 
 kT    
exp −   1
   V 2 (2m ) 32
 12

   exp −
  kT 
N =  exp  d 
 kT  h3 
0  kT   V  (2mkT )
3 2

   1
   V 2 (2m )3 2  N h3
N =  exp   (kT )32 1
 1
 kT  3
h  2  N 3 h
   1
    V  (2mkT ) V  2mkT
32
exp − = 
 kT   N  h3 3 2
N  h2 
 
 
  1
V  2mkT 
 Systems
• ‘system’ : a certain portion of the universe within some closed
surface.
• system: solid, liquid, or gas, or a collection of magnetic dipoles,
or photons in a vacuum.
• the boundary of the system: real or imaginary
• Isolated system: dQ=0, dW=0, and dN=0
therefore U, V, and N are constant.
Statistical physics →isolated systems
• Closed system: dQ  0, dW  0, and dN=0
Thermodynamics → closed system
• Open system: dQ  0, dW  0, and dN  0