Louis de Broglie
Proposed the wave nature of electrons and suggested that all matter has wave-like properties.
Most quoted
"The fundamental idea of my thesis was the following: The experiment of Young, the diffraction of X-rays, the photoelectric effect, the Compton effect, all these phenomena show that light has a dual nature, sometimes wave, sometimes corpuscle. Why should not matter also have a dual nature?"
— from Nobel Lecture, 1929
"The idea of wave-particle duality, which is at the heart of quantum mechanics, was born from the realization that light, previously considered a wave, also exhibits particle-like properties, and conversely, matter, previously considered particles, also exhibits wave-like properties."
— from General writings/lectures
"In space-time, everything which for each of us constitutes the past, the present, and the future is given in block... Each observer, as his time passes, discovers, so to speak, new slices of space-time which appear to him as successive aspects of the material world."
— from The Revolution in Physics
All quotes by Louis de Broglie (397)
The wave associated with a particle is not a probability wave, but a real physical wave.
The pilot-wave theory offers a more intuitive and deterministic interpretation of quantum mechanics.
The Copenhagen interpretation, with its emphasis on measurement and observer, is incomplete.
We must not be afraid to challenge established dogmas, even in physics.
The search for a unified theory of physics is the ultimate goal of science.
The universe is far more mysterious and complex than we can ever imagine.
The wave-particle duality is a fundamental characteristic of all matter, not just light.
The concept of a 'quantum jump' is an artificial construct; the transition is continuous through the wave.
The wave associated with a particle guides its motion, like a pilot guiding a ship.
The probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics arises from our ignorance of the underlying wave.
The idea of a 'collapse of the wave function' is an unsatisfactory explanation.
There is a deeper, sub-quantum reality that we are yet to fully understand.
The universe is not fundamentally random; there are hidden variables at play.
The wave function is not just a mathematical tool, but a representation of a physical reality.
The electron is not a point, but a localized wave packet.
The quantum theory, in its current form, is incomplete.
The concept of 'complementarity' is a temporary solution, not a fundamental answer.
The wave-particle duality is a manifestation of the underlying unity of nature.
The universe is a vast ocean of waves, and particles are merely localized disturbances within it.
The true nature of reality is more subtle and profound than our everyday experience suggests.
Contemporaries of Louis de Broglie
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Louis de Broglie (1892–1987).