  In this note we will first argue that there is evidence in supporting the
view that de Broglie waves have a gravitational origin. In view of the extreme
weakness of the gravitational field, however, this seems to be an unlikely
proposition. We consider the problem of the atom in the light of a proposed
electron theory [physics/0212013] and show that in this theory an insignificant
perturbation in the gravitational field might in effect be amplified by
astonishingly large orders of magnitudes. On this basis we then propose a
realistic model of an atom where the electron continually tunnels through the
electrostatic field of the proton and the de Broglie waves take on the role of
the missing electrostatic interactions. Although the discussion is a
qualitative one, and as such may not be considered as being conclusive, never
the less, we believe that on the evidence presented here the possibility of a
gravitational origin for the de Broglie waves must be seriously considered.
