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 idea of associating waves with matter particles came to me suddenly in 1923, during a solitary walk.
I was haunted by the idea that light, which we know to be a wave phenomenon, also exhibits particle-like properties. Why not the reverse?
My brother Maurice, who was a brilliant experimental physicist, encouraged me greatly in my early theoretical work.
I am convinced that the wave-particle duality is a fundamental aspect of reality, not just a mathematical trick.
The solitude of research can be both a blessing and a curse. It allows for deep thought, but can also lead to self-doubt.
Einstein's support for my thesis was crucial. Without it, my ideas might have been dismissed.
I often find myself pondering the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics. It challenges our very understanding of existence.
The beauty of physics lies in its ability to reveal the hidden order of the universe.
I sometimes feel like a traveler in an unknown land, constantly discovering new landscapes of knowledge.
The development of quantum mechanics has been a collective effort, a testament to the power of human collaboration.
My early education in history and philosophy provided a valuable foundation for my later scientific pursuits.
The Nobel Prize was a great honor, but the true reward is the joy of discovery itself.
I believe that there is still much to be understood about the nature of reality at the quantum level.
The wave mechanics provided a new way of visualizing the behavior of particles, a more intuitive approach than matrix mechanics.
My work was an attempt to unify the seemingly disparate concepts of waves and particles.
The resistance to new ideas is often strong, but persistence is key to scientific progress.
I have always been fascinated by the interplay between determinism and probability in physics.
The universe is far more mysterious and wonderful than we can ever fully comprehend.
My family's aristocratic background instilled in me a sense of duty and intellectual curiosity.
The early days of quantum mechanics were a period of intense excitement and intellectual ferment.
Contemporaries of Louis de Broglie
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Louis de Broglie (1892–1987).