The main difference between light waves and matter waves lies in the nature of the particles associated with them. Light waves are associated with photons, which are massless particles and fundamental particles of light. On the other hand, matter waves are associated with particles such as electrons, protons, and other massive particles.
Light waves, or electromagnetic waves, can propagate through a vacuum or a medium, such as air or water. They are characterized by their wavelength, frequency, and energy. Light waves exhibit various properties like interference, diffraction, polarization, and can be described by Maxwell's equations. Light waves can travel at the speed of light in a vacuum and can interact with charged particles.
Matter waves, on the other hand, are associated with particles that have mass, such as electrons, protons, atoms, and molecules. According to quantum mechanics, particles like electrons can also exhibit wave-like properties. These matter waves are described by wave functions and are governed by the Schrödinger equation. The wavelength of a matter wave is inversely proportional to the momentum of the associated particle.
The concept of matter waves, also known as de Broglie waves, suggests that particles like electrons have a wave-particle duality. They can exhibit wave-like behavior, such as interference and diffraction, similar to light waves. However, it's important to note that the nature of matter waves is different from electromagnetic waves. Matter waves are associated with the probability distribution of finding a particle at a certain position, while light waves are electromagnetic oscillations of electric and magnetic fields.
In summary, light waves are associated with photons, which are massless particles, while matter waves are associated with particles that have mass, such as electrons. Light waves are electromagnetic in nature, while matter waves arise from the wave-particle duality of quantum particles.