Which experiment demonstrated the wave nature of electrons?

The Davison and Germer Experiment is pivotal in demonstrating the wave nature of electrons. Conducted in the 1920s, it involved directing a beam of electrons at a crystalline nickel target. The experiment observed the diffraction pattern produced as the electrons scattered off the crystal lattice. This behavior was akin to the diffraction of light waves, which is fundamentally characteristic of waves rather than particles.

The results provided strong support for the de Broglie hypothesis, which suggests that particles like electrons exhibit wave-like properties. The wavelength of the electrons was shown to be related to their momentum, confirming that electrons can indeed display both particle-like and wave-like characteristics, a foundational concept in quantum mechanics known as wave-particle duality.

In contrast, the other experiments listed do not demonstrate the wave nature of electrons. The Rutherford Experiment focused on the nucleus of the atom, the Millikan Oil Drop Experiment measured the charge of the electron, and the Thomson Cathode Ray Experiment discovered the electron and demonstrated its negative charge but did not address its wave properties.