Introduction

• A closer look at the electron
• Quantization of electric charge
• Matter waves and de Broglie wavelengths
• The schizophrenic nature of matter

Our goal is to finally make the leap into the “modern” theory of quantum mechanics. The crucial insight, which we hinted is that particles of matter can also display wavelike properties—just like light! Only by appreciating the concept of matter waves can we begin to construct a self-consistent quantum theory that takes the place of the patchwork ideas of the “old” quantum physics.

We will also see how the symmetry between light and matter extends the bizarre concept of wave-particle duality to include not only light, but material objects as well.