The experiment carried out in 1927 that confirmed the
→ de Broglie hypothesis as to the
→ wave nature of the
→ electron. It showed that electrons scattering off crystals
form a → diffraction pattern.
The experimental setup consisted of a → nickle chloride
→ crystal as → target,
an electron gun, and a → detector
placed on a graduated circular scale.
The intensity of the reflected electrons was measured as a
function of angle and electron energy. The observations showed a strong
intensity peak at a certain angle. The nickel crystal acted as a
→ diffraction grating.
→ Constructive interference occurred
at a particular angle, where the peak intensity was observed in accord with
→ Bragg’s law.
Interestingly, the intent of the initial experiment was was not to confirm
the de Broglie hypothesis. In fact, the discovery was made by
accident.
See also: Carried out by American physicists Clinton Davisson (1881-1958) and
Lester Germer (1896-1971); → experiment.
