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Qmechanic ♦
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electron Electron wave and photon wave packet spreading

I am looking for a physical interpretation of different behavior of electron and photon wave packets.

The dispersion relationship for a photon in free-space is linear ($\omega \propto k$), while for an electron (or any other massive particle) it is quadratic ($\omega \propto k^2$) (in free-space). If I form a (single) electron wave packet it will disperse in time (broaden with time of propagation), but a photon packet will not.

Apparently, any massive particle will behave the same way regardless of whether it has charge or whether it is a boson or a fermion. I would consider the dispersion relationship difference a purely mathematical explanation for this phenomenon, but is there a physical interpretation behind this?

Thanks

electron wave and photon wave packet spreading

I am looking for a physical interpretation of different behavior of electron and photon wave packets.

The dispersion relationship for a photon in free-space is linear ($\omega \propto k$), while for an electron (or any other massive particle) it is quadratic ($\omega \propto k^2$) (in free-space). If I form a (single) electron wave packet it will disperse in time (broaden with time of propagation), but a photon packet will not.

Apparently, any massive particle will behave the same way regardless of whether it has charge or whether it is a boson or a fermion. I would consider the dispersion relationship difference a purely mathematical explanation for this phenomenon, but is there a physical interpretation behind this?

Thanks

Electron wave and photon wave packet spreading

I am looking for a physical interpretation of different behavior of electron and photon wave packets.

The dispersion relationship for a photon in free-space is linear ($\omega \propto k$), while for an electron (or any other massive particle) it is quadratic ($\omega \propto k^2$) (in free-space). If I form a (single) electron wave packet it will disperse in time (broaden with time of propagation), but a photon packet will not.

Apparently, any massive particle will behave the same way regardless of whether it has charge or whether it is a boson or a fermion. I would consider the dispersion relationship difference a purely mathematical explanation for this phenomenon, but is there a physical interpretation behind this?

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edit approved Feb 27, 2017 at 19:50
user146020
edit approved Feb 27, 2017 at 19:50
user146020

I am looking for a physical interpretation of different behavior of electron and photon wave packets.

The dispersion relationship for a photon in free-space is linear (w ~ k$\omega \propto k$), while for an electron (or any other massive particle) it is quadratic (w ~ k^2$\omega \propto k^2$) (in free-space). If I form a (single) electron wave packet it will disperse in time (broaden with time of propagation), but a photon packet will not. 

Apparently, any massive particle will behave the same way regardless of whether it has charge or whether it is a boson or a fermion. I would consider the dispersion relationship difference a purely mathematical explanation for this phenomenon, but is there a physical interpretation behind this?

Thanks

I am looking for a physical interpretation of different behavior of electron and photon wave packets.

The dispersion relationship for a photon in free-space is linear (w ~ k), while for an electron (or any other massive particle) it is quadratic (w ~ k^2) (in free-space). If I form a (single) electron wave packet it will disperse in time (broaden with time of propagation), but a photon packet will not. Apparently, any massive particle will behave the same way regardless of whether it has charge or whether it is a boson or a fermion. I would consider the dispersion relationship difference a purely mathematical explanation for this phenomenon, but is there a physical interpretation behind this?

Thanks

I am looking for a physical interpretation of different behavior of electron and photon wave packets.

The dispersion relationship for a photon in free-space is linear ($\omega \propto k$), while for an electron (or any other massive particle) it is quadratic ($\omega \propto k^2$) (in free-space). If I form a (single) electron wave packet it will disperse in time (broaden with time of propagation), but a photon packet will not. 

Apparently, any massive particle will behave the same way regardless of whether it has charge or whether it is a boson or a fermion. I would consider the dispersion relationship difference a purely mathematical explanation for this phenomenon, but is there a physical interpretation behind this?

Thanks

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Dubravko Babic
Dubravko Babic
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electron wave and photon wave packet spreading

I am looking for a physical interpretation of different behavior of electron and photon wave packets.

The dispersion relationship for a photon in free-space is linear (w ~ k), while for an electron (or any other massive particle) it is quadratic (w ~ k^2) (in free-space). If I form a (single) electron wave packet it will disperse in time (broaden with time of propagation), but a photon packet will not. Apparently, any massive particle will behave the same way regardless of whether it has charge or whether it is a boson or a fermion. I would consider the dispersion relationship difference a purely mathematical explanation for this phenomenon, but is there a physical interpretation behind this?

Thanks