Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A French nuclear physicist: "de Broglie" refers specifically to Louis de Broglie, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist known for his revolutionary contribution to quantum theory.
   • Associated with wave-particle duality: The name is fundamentally linked to the hypothesis that particles of matter, such as electrons, exhibit wavelike properties.

Usage

• The term "de Broglie" is used as a proper noun to refer to the historical figure, his ideas, or the physical concepts named after him.
• It is commonly used in academic and scientific contexts, particularly in physics and the history of science.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • De Broglie's 1924 thesis introduced the concept of matter waves.
  • The de Broglie wavelength is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics.
  • We studied the contributions of de Broglie to modern physics.

Advanced Usage

• "de Broglie hypothesis": The proposition that any moving particle or object has an associated wave.
  • The de Broglie hypothesis was confirmed by electron diffraction experiments.
• "de Broglie wavelength" (λ = h/p): The wavelength associated with a particle, given by Planck's constant divided by the particle's momentum.
  • Calculating the de Broglie wavelength of an electron is a standard exercise.

Variants and Related Words

• Broglian (adj): Pertaining to de Broglie or his theories (less common).
  • The Broglian wave concept was initially met with skepticism.

Synonyms

• Louis de Broglie: The full name.
• Duc de Broglie: Referring to his noble title, the Duke de Broglie.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Wave-particle duality: The core concept de Broglie extended from light to matter.
  • De Broglie is a central figure in the development of wave-particle duality.
• Matter waves: The waves associated with particles, as proposed by de Broglie.
  • The existence of matter waves was de Broglie's great insight.

Noun

1. French nuclear physicist who generalized the wave-particle duality by proposing that particles of matter exhibit wavelike properties (1892-1987)