We present a simple general proof that the spreading velocity of a relativistic free wave packet of de Broglie waves is limited. For a wide class of packets we confirm that the limit is the velocity of light, and we show how this limit is approached when the width Δp of the wave packet in momentum space tends to infinity and the minimum width σ(t=0) in ordinary space tends to zero.
Topics
Matter waves
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© 1984 American Association of Physics Teachers.
1984
American Association of Physics Teachers
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