de Broglie wave

noun

Physics.

1. a hypothetical wave associated with the motion of a particle of atomic or subatomic size that describes effects such as the diffraction of beams of particles by crystals.

Word History and Origins

Origin of de Broglie wave¹

First recorded in 1925–30; named after L.V. de Broglie

Example Sentences

The higher the velocity of a particle, the shorter the wavelength of the de Broglie wave.

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