Thursday 1 November 2018

quantum mechanics - Can we stop electrons from moving?



We know that electrons have a dual nature just like EM waves (of course all the materials are said to have dual nature, noticeable or not). So looking at the wave nature of an electron and comparing this with photons, is it possible to make its kinetic energy equal to zero?


Copied form researchgate...



Answer




First of all, you can't compare photons with electrons. They are different types of particles (spin 1 vs spin1/2; force transmitter vs force emitter; see this question).


No, it's not possible to stop an electron. because of the simple fact, it has to obey the Heisenberg uncertainty relation with respect to place and momentum.


In the extreme case (theoretically) we can measure the electron's momentum with absolute certainty. Which means we know absolutely nothing about the whereabouts of the electron (Heisenberg). But how to find (or construct) such an electron? By an exact measurement? It would be a huge coincidence if the electron had indeed momentum zero. But this is all abstract and theoretical so, again, the answer is a big NO.


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