Visualizing the Submicrocosm: A New Perspective on Atoms

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    Atoms
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the visualization of atoms, exploring speculative models and perspectives on what atoms may "look like." Participants engage with concepts from quantum mechanics, electron microscopy, and alternative models of atomic structure, while addressing the limitations imposed by current scientific understanding.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the feasibility of visualizing atoms due to the uncertainty principle and propose that alternative models should be considered.
  • One participant shares their geometrical modeling of atoms and claims that traditional views on the molecular structure of lithium hydride may be incorrect.
  • Another participant discusses the standard model of quantum mechanics, including S, P, D, and F orbitals, and mentions string theory as a potential framework for understanding atomic structure.
  • There are claims that scanning tunneling microscopes and attosecond lasers can provide insights into atomic shapes and electron orbits, though some participants question the accuracy of these methods.
  • Concerns are raised about the educational resources available for understanding atomic structures, with some participants noting the prevalence of the Bohr model over more complex representations.
  • Links to external resources and personal artwork are shared to illustrate different perspectives on atomic visualization.
  • Discussions about the energy dynamics of diamond and graphite transformations are introduced, questioning the effects of electron beams versus thermal fluctuations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the visualization of atoms, with no clear consensus on the accuracy or feasibility of current models and techniques. Disagreements exist regarding the interpretation of experimental results and the implications of various theoretical frameworks.

Contextual Notes

Limitations in the discussion include unresolved assumptions about the capabilities of electron and scanning tunneling microscopes, as well as the dependence on definitions of atomic structure and visualization techniques.

k_snelson
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What an atom looks like

I opened this thread to bring up a subject seldom discussed because no one expects anymore to see speculations about what atoms may “look like” -- ever since the uncertainty principle demonstrated that we’ll never be able to see an atom in detail. That shouldn’t have ended speculation about the activities of electrons but it seems to have done so. We have settled for the endless warnings that we shouldn’t expect such visualizations of the atom from science.

Is it feasible that in all of those planets among distant stars that all intelligence has settled for the Heisenberg principle and the Schroedinger wave equation as the only way to think of the submicrocosm?

Imagine a voyager who has descended and presented a totally different image from the one we’re used to. It would be featured on the front page of the New York Times!

Think of my model of the atom as a visit from outerspace then take a short trip to my website to see an otherworldly point of view for what electrons are doing as they build what we know as matter. (It’s based on earlier work done right here on Earth and not too outlandish.)

."Portrait of an Atom" Please see all 8 pages.

http://www.kennethsnelson.net/snelson_symmetry.pdf
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
aaw, i was interested.
 
i've read that site before but i still don't understand :(
 


Originally posted by k_snelson
Apparently no one is interested in this topic. Please delete.

You can delete posts yourself.
 
Dear K.S.,
I am alarmed with your silence in both yours treads. How are you?
I think, that these problems are very topical and I would like to help for their development.
In the last month I have executed geometrical modelling and calculation of energetic parameters for atoms of hydrogen and helium.
Now I in parallel make geometrical modelling and calculation of thermodynamic parameters for lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, and also for simple molecules of these atoms. It is very interesting occupation. It reminds infinite expedition on almost impassable underground labyrinths. Out of each turn it is possible to meet unexpectedness.
See:
http://vlamir.nsk.ru/H_&_D_e.pdf
http://vlamir.nsk.ru/He_&_H_e.pdf
Me it “has fortunate” from first steps. The modelling of a molecule of hydride of lithium and calculation of thermodynamic parameters have shown, that in the nature there is no substance under chemical formula LiH. In the nature there is a substance, which molecule consist of molecule of lithium and molecule of hydrogen, and the molecule of hydrogen is inside the molecule of lithium.
One atom of lithium and one atom of hydrogen are not capable to incorporate in the same way, as molecules. What do you think concerning my words?
 
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How in the world did I miss this one?!

- Warren
 
Currently I believe the quantum view of atoms are the ones that play the standard model, which I haven't seen myself yet through very quick skimming of those posted above. The whole S P D F orbitals.

I also believe the string theory where, protons, electrons, and particles are made of strings, that vibrate in unique directions in space. I believe they have a new model on how an atom looks.

Now my favourite part, according to Planck there is a minimum length of an object, which i believe it was 1.605 x 10^-34 metres. A proton if my memory isn't playing tricks on me again is 10^-15 metres, so currently physicists are trying to discover/invent a device that will allow for particles to be compressed or shrunken down to almost the smallest length. Then use these extremely small particles like an electron microscope, then it is very easy for us to see visually what atoms look like.
 
munky99999 said:
Currently I believe the quantum view of atoms are the ones that play the standard model, which I haven't seen myself yet through very quick skimming of those posted above. The whole S P D F orbitals.
...
Dear 99…,
I would be glad, if you have believed own eyes.
One atom of carbon occupies volume 5.7 cubic angstroms. In the electronic microphoto of a crystal of diamond in crystallographic plane 110 it is possible well to see the six-angle cell with the corresponding sizes (though the existing theory asserts, that it is a cubic cell?!). The molecule of hydride of lithium occupies 34 cubic angstroms. Hence, the electronic microscope is capable to see the geometrical form of atoms and molecules.
 
id like see a source for that, I've been told that electron microscope are unable to see structures of atoms, I've never used an electron microscope though, I've got a poor school. well half a million is a lot
 
  • #10
Scanning tunnel microscopes are certainly able to give us some idea of what atoms look like and results that have been published declare these atom shapes to be perfectly spherical. Today the perfecting of attosecond lasers actually enable to see the orbit of an electron within an atom.
 
  • #11
It is curious that people everywhere "know" what an atom looks like since the endlessly reproduced logo-shorthand for the Bohr hydrogen model has become indelible. Strange that charge cloud pictures are much rarer. Maybe it's because those whiz-line electron tracks indicate speed and motion?

I'm trying to offer more options. You can click-download a small (288k) pdf file showing, on the first page, a dozen atom images collected from around the web. On the second page are atom pictures from my artwork, "Portrait of an Atom".

If one day a work-around is discovered enabling us to see things clearly, what will the pictures look like?

See here:

http://www.kennethsnelson.net/ImagesOfTheAtom.pdf
 
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  • #12
McQueen, are you sure, that it is orbits of electrons?
May be, it is something another?
The principle of work of a tunnel microscope is very perspective, but I think, that this principle is necessary for using in a complex with a principle of compound eyes (as sight of insects). Then we can find out, how quantums of energy from microcrystals take off.
It will give the most exact information about the form of atoms and molecules.
As to electronic microphotos, they too give a lot of the perspective information, but, unfortunately, departments of education do not care of providing educational institutions with high-quality atlases.
 
  • #13
Vlamir , I think its something like using a flash , since an attosecond laser has almost the same frequency of the electron orbit , it can freeze the motion even though the energy imparted by thlaser to the atom might give not the orbit but a change in orbit , still it's getting closer.
 
  • #16
McQueen,
At temperature 850°Ñ diamond turns into graphite. Energy of transformation is equal 1.898 kJ/mol=0.2 eV/atom. Electrons in a beam of electronic microscope have energy in some hundreds eV.
Why diamond collapses as a result of action of thermal fluctuations of low frequency and why diamond does not collapse from influence of huge energy and very high frequency of electrons in a microscope?
Can you explain it with help of your “flash-theory”?
 
  • #17
Vlamir
I think if you follow the link you will get the technical information as to how electron microscopes have been used to get these pictures. As to the "freezing" of electron microscope by attosecond lasers , I read it at the nature magazine site but failed to book-mark it . Sory.
 
  • #18
McQueen,
A lot of years back I was designed electronic microscopes and other electronic-optical systems. Therefore I well know complexities of focusing of electrons, complexities of creation of high vacuum and cooling of samples of crystals, complexities of allocation of useful signals from noise.
Still at that time I have understood, that the standard model incorrectly explains the structure of atoms.
Now in the standard theory many questions, which it is impossible to answer, have collected. Most the complicated question is geometry of atoms.
Many substances (diamond, carbides, compounds of boron, etc.) possesses huge solidity and at the same time they easily collapse from weak thermal or chemical influences.
For example, in an atmosphere of oxygen, diamond turns into graphite at temperature 750°Ñ, i.e. 100°Ñ is lower. Oxygen is electropositive under the relation to carbon. According to the standard theory, electrons move from diamond to molecules of oxygen, therefore diamond collapses faster. Agree, that it is unsatisfactory explanation.
I think, that the reason of all of destruction is resonant vibration.
According to my calculations, electron has the form of a ring in diameter 2 angstroms. In electronic microscope the electrons fly in such a manner that axes of rings are directed along the direction of movement. At impact about a surface of crystal there are shafts of quantums and splinters of electrons, but the resonance at impact does not arise. Therefore diamond does not turn into graphite.
 
  • #19
Vlamir
I have also had occasion to use electron microscopes , and so had a general idea of their limitations which is why the scanning tunnel microscope was invented I suppose , but obviously since you have been designing electronmicroscopes you must have a much better idea. In any case it seems to me that you are referring more to the crystalline structure than the atomic structure or am I mistaken ? Vlamir it seems that there has been some confusion , on re-reading your post I see that you were not referring to the geometry (structure ) of atome but to the geometry of crystals
 
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  • #20
Current atomic theory

Fascinating reading... I am not at the same educational level (yet) as the rest of you. I am currently an undergrad in college. I find this fascinating. So I pose this question... knowing that the Bohr model is the current standard primarily used, what data has been documented that modifies the the Bohr model? Is it still relevant or has something new been discovered? I thought I heard a mention in the national news a few months ago, that some discovery has changed the accepted standard model of current atomic theory. If so, what is its quantum model? Thanks!
 
  • #21
McQueen, you are right.
I have put for myself a specific target to study the external form of atoms and molecules. Now I make geometrical calculations for first eight elements in Mendeleyev's table. But that is surprising – geometry of Euclid’s space prompts the internal structure of atoms. Each plane and each angle in the crystal repeat the form of atom or molecule and, besides, speaks that is located inside object.
Now I can declare with confidence, that Snelson's model on 50 % corresponds to the validity. He has not taken into account, that the majority of atoms are chemical radicals and cannot be for a long time in a free condition. Therefore, they are not symmetric, both in a free condition, and in structure of molecules.
K.Snelson has applied ring images of de Broglie’s waves and has precisely shown points of connection of waves. Now it is necessary to exclude nucleus of atoms and then all will be all right.
 
  • #22
Curiousguy,
The universe and life in the universe cannot exist without vibration and resonances. Quantums are resonances. You can invent own resonant model of atoms and it will be new quantum model.
Start to work right now, while you are young. Success for you.
 
  • #23
k.snelson

Great site, first time I have seen these diagrams and they are much better than mine; but the same criticism can be applied in that the script does not explain 'how or why'.

If you compare the diagrams with my proposed vacuum theory interpretation you will see that the Niels Bhor diagrams (group of three diagrams in section 1) can be said to represent (from top to Bottom)

a) the effect of the vacuum field on the electrons.
In that they are shaped like teardrops falling towards the centre.​

  • b) the effect of the shape conflict upon the wave pattern..
    Vacuum field seeks to be spherical, force carrier seeks to be crystaline.

    • c) that on each concentric all points have the same rotation.
      The whole body is engaged in the wave action.​

      • Similar explanations can be applied to the diagrams on the other pages. This makes my point that if we really want to understand what is going on inside an atom, we have first to deterrmine the cause of fundamental particle creation. and use this as a basis for understanding atoms.

        If you visit my revised website you will see that I now show how the vacuum force and wave patterns combine to create fundamental particles of the correct mass. This is something that is not explained in 'Portrait of an atom'. Indeed it cannot be done using the current interpretation. I am going to revise my old explanation of atomic structure and add it to website again. "Portrait of an atom" will be a great help.
        thanks
        elas
 
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  • #24
curiousguy said:
Fascinating reading... I am not at the same educational level (yet) as the rest of you. I am currently an undergrad in college. I find this fascinating.
I feel it is my duty to warn you. The posts here in the Theory Development section of our site are generally moved here from other parts of the site. Posts which do not make any sense, do not follow the scientific method, disagree with experiment, challenge well-established theory, or are generally overly speculative are moved here. By and large, posters in this subforum are not well-educated. You would do well to avoid this section of the forum if you hope to learn anything that will be useful in the rest of your academic career. The rest of our forum deals with real (not imaginary) science.

- Warren
 
  • #25
Hello Elas,
Since new year, I had already read three textbooks of chemistry (including the textbook of chemistry by L. and P. Paulings). I had sensation, that authors of these textbooks creaked with teeth, when they tried to explain huge variety of chemical bonds between atoms and molecules by means of sigma-pi-bonds of orbitals.
The Snelson's model and my polytronic model can provide, at least, four types of bonds. The strongest bond is realized in that case, when the atom or molecule of the greater size absorbs atom or molecule of the smaller size. This type of bond I could modeling by the examples of formation of hydride of lithium and oxide of lithium.
The second type of bond (less strong, than the first) is realized in that case, when polytrons of two neighboring atoms are located on one axis and are gravitate to each other due to the electromagnetic moments of polytrons. Resonant vibration of polytrons prevents with junction of two polytrons in one and during too time promotes to sliding of planes of polyhedrons relatively each other.
The following, the third type of bond is realized in that case, when free nodes of four polytrons of one atom incorporate with free nodes of four polytrons of other atom. By means of these bonds, diatomic molecules of one element, and also such linear structures, as hydrogen shanks in crystals of ice are formed.
The fourth, weakest type of bond is realized in that case, when one node on an edge of one atom-polyhedron incorporates with one node on an edge of other atom-polyhedron.
Energy of each ring in atom-polyhedron can be expressed with speed of light in vacuum. Hence, the amount of energy can be expressed as amount of centripetal acceleration.
If to turn an axis of a ring on some angle, then arises, well known for everybody, gyroscopic effect or angular acceleration.
Angular acceleration is a change of centripetal acceleration. The change of centripetal acceleration is a change of amount of energy-mass in atom. Hence, the change of crystallographic angles in atom should cause the change of an initial stock of energy of atom.
Depending on the geometrical form of atom, the axises of rings-polytrons are focused in one or more points inside atom. In these points angular acceleration has huge density, therefore these points can be interpreted, as nucleus of atoms. In these points there are no elementary particles (electrons, positrons, quarks, etc.), but in these points the laws of transformation of space work accurately.
The theory of relativity describes inertial systems which are located outside of atoms, therefore all these systems is indifferent identical.
I think, that the inertial system inside atom essentially differs from inertial system outside of atom.
Thus, we should distinguish two types of inertial systems, which are located on the opposite sides concerning a surface of atoms. The constant of speed of light in vacuum can be accepted as border of dividing between these inertial systems.
 
  • #26
Did you read about experiences of Russian scientist Nikolay Aleksandrovich Kozyrev?
His experiences have authentically confirmed, that time actively participates in all physical processes. Here are descriptions only of two the Kozyrev's experiences.

1) On one end of beam balance the gyroscope, which rotates clockwise, is suspended. On other end the counterbalancing cargo is suspended. After the pointer of balance has calmed down, to the basis of balance the acting electrovibrator put on. Frequency of the electrovibrator is picked up so, that vibration was absorbed by massive rotor of gyroscope, therefore the pointer of balance in experience does not react at all to vibration. After that, the rotor of gyroscope is untwist counter-clockwise, and again suspend on a former place. The pointer of weights shows, that the gyroscope became easier.
N.A.Kozyrev had explained this phenomenon as follows – at rotation of the gyroscope counter-clockwise, the direction of rotation of the rotor of gyroscope has coincided with a true current of time, therefore, the initial equilibrium on balance has been broken.

2) The second experience is carried out with the same beam balance and with the same gyroscope, which rotates on a current of time, i.e. counter-clockwise. After an equilibration of balance, near to gyroscope the thermos with hot water is put. There are no any miracles, and the pointer of balance remains motionless.
Then into the thermos add a glass of cold water. The pointer of balance shows, that the gyroscope became easier on four milligrams from initial weight of 90 grammes. After some time, when the temperature of water in the thermos was leveled, the pointer of balance has returned on a former place.
N.A.Kozyrev had explained this phenomenon as follows – while water in a thermos is in a nonequilibrium thermodynamic condition, it condenses around of herself the time and has the force influence onto gyroscope.

N.A.Kozyrev proved, that in the left and right inertial systems the time influences on the space by forces with various signs. At infringement of thermodynamic equilibration between these forces arises or condensation, or thinning of the time. Then, according to the law of preservation, we should accept an opportunity of thinning-condensation and for the space.
From time of experiences of N.A.Kozyrev has passed more half-century. For this half-century, the experimental physics has made huge progress. There were even messages, that was possible to measure weight of human soul.
Now let's look at models of some atoms from two sides – outside of atom and from within atom. I think, that there it is possible to find a logical explanation for N.A.Kozyrev's mysterious experiences.
http://vlamir.nsk.ru/Li_&_H_&_O_e.pdf
http://vlamir.nsk.ru/B_&_N_&_O_e.pdf
 
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  • #27
chroot

Posts which do not make any sense, do not follow the scientific method, disagree with experiment, challenge well-established theory, or are generally overly speculative are moved here.

Relativity and quantum physics are by definition either mathematical prediction theories or philosophies, they are not science. If you look at my explanation of fundamental particles I use only the one force known to exist in scientific terms and show a mathematical relationship between particles, that is science; (the rest of my work is meant to show how the philosophies of ST and QT can be converted into a science simply by removing all unnecessary entities; the mathematics remain unaltered).

You are quite right of course, to caution students about there use of theory development forums, but the manner in which you have done so is totally unacceptable.
 
  • #28
elas,

I don't care what you think.

- Warren
 
  • #29
  • #30


McQueen said:
Vlamir
I think if you follow the link you will get the technical information as to how electron microscopes have been used to get these pictures. As to the "freezing" of electron microscope by attosecond lasers , I read it at the nature magazine site but failed to book-mark it . Sory.


You may find this website of interest then. It also features an amazing Quicktime view of the scale of the universe from minus (-) infinity to positive (+) infinity for those who may also be interested.

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/index.html
 
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