The energy and momentum of an electron are related to the frequency and wavelength of the associated matter wave by the relations: E = h ν, p = h/λ But while the value of λ is physically significant, the value of ν (and therefore, the value of the phase speed ν λ) has no physical significance. Why?
The absolute value of energy E (but not momentum p) of any particle is arbitrary to within an additive constant. Hence, while is physically significant, the absolute value of a matter-wave of an electron has no direct physical meaning. The phase speed is likewise not physically significant. The group speed given by d(1/λ)dv=dpdE(2mp2)=mp, is physically meaningful
