Can a cloud of electrons be stabilized by interactions between them?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of stabilizing a cloud of electrons through various interactions, particularly focusing on electromagnetic and magnetic forces, as well as the potential formation of a Fermi liquid or Wigner crystal under specific conditions. The scope includes theoretical considerations and implications for plasma physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that a cloud of free electrons would not remain stable due to electromagnetic repulsion, with gravity being insufficient to counteract this force.
  • One participant proposes the idea of electrons forming a Fermi liquid at low temperatures, suggesting that interactions might lead to stable quasiparticles and Cooper pairs.
  • Others assert that it is not possible to stabilize such a cloud without external forces, emphasizing the need for calculations to support claims.
  • A participant references the virial theorem, indicating that localized configurations of charges cannot maintain stability through self-forces alone and will expand unless constrained by external forces.
  • Another participant questions whether the virial theorem applies to all systems containing charges, specifically in the context of a Wigner crystal, and receives clarification that such a crystal can be stable under certain external conditions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement on the feasibility of stabilizing a cloud of electrons, with some asserting it is impossible without external forces, while others explore theoretical frameworks that might allow for stability under specific conditions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact conditions under which stabilization might occur.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the need for specific calculations to support theoretical claims and the dependence on external forces for stability, as well as the unresolved nature of the conditions under which electrons might form stable configurations.

Suekdccia
Messages
352
Reaction score
30
TL;DR
Electrons tend to be repelled by electromagnetic interactions and cannit be attracted by gravity as it is a much weaker interaction. However, at low temperatures, can they be in a stable configuration by other interactions like magnetic ones or forming a Fermi liquid?
If you have many free electrons forming a cloud they wouldn't last too much as they would be repelled from each other due to electromagnetic forces. Gravity wouldn't help since it is much weaker than electromagnetic force, so electrons would still fly away


However, can they be stabililized by magnetic forces arising between electrons? Or perhaps, could they form a Fermi liquid [1] (at sufficiently low temperatures) that could interact with one another to form stable quasiparticles for an indefinite time (if no external perturbations exist) and that could in turn form also stable Cooper pairs as temperature approaches close to zero?

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_liquid_theory
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: WWGD
Physics news on Phys.org
No.
 
  • Skeptical
Likes   Reactions: Suekdccia
Vanadium 50 said:
No.
Any info on why it's not possible?
 
I said to myself "don't answer him. Let him stew, Otherwise this is going to turn into the typical Suekdccia waste of time thread". But then I relented. My screw-up.

Some things to think about:
  1. You need to put a modicum of effort in. Demanding that PF does all the work while you sit on your keester is deeply disrespectful.
  2. Related to #1, show us a calculation. Don't simply demand we figure out whjere you are wrong.
  3. How much repulsion do you need to add together to make it attractive?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman and Motore
Vanadium 50 said:
I said to myself "don't answer him. Let him stew, Otherwise this is going to turn into 5he typical Suekdccia waste of time thread". But then I relented. My screw-up.

Some things to think about:
  1. You need to put a modicum of effort in. Demanding that PF does all the work while yuou sit on your keester is deeply disrespectful.
  2. Related to #1, show us a calculation. Don't simply demand we figure out whjere you are wrong.
  3. How much repulsion do you need to add together to make it attractive?
I'm simply asking whether it is theoretically possible to have, for example, electrons forming a fermi liquid if electrons' density and temperature are in the right range. If the answer is: This is impossible in all cases no matter what the conditions and no matter what calculations you do (like as if I asked if a proton can travel at beyond-speed of light velocities) then this thread is over. If there is a range of temperature and density in which this is possible then the thread is also over as I just need to know that. I've tried to search for an answer by myself and the only possibility that I've found is the fermi liquid one, but I'm not sure if my understanding of this is right. I just need someone wiser to correct me if I'm wrong and electrons could not form a Fermi liquid or any other stable state. I'm not asking anyone to do an abusive work load. I don't think it's necessary to tell me for the 5th time that all my threads are a waste of time. I understand the critics to the posts where I asked about speculative theories or where I added no references. But this time I'm referring to a question about the behaviour of matter according to our current models. If you personally don't like me and just want me to stop posting anything at this point just tell me and I will try to not post any longer as I don't want to annoy anyone, but please understand that if you just tell me "no" I would like to know why
 
Last edited:
Suekdccia said:
I'm simply asking whether it is theoretically possible to have, for example, electrons forming a fermi liquid if electrons' density and temperature are in the right range. If the answer is: This is impossible in all cases no matter what the conditions and no matter what calculations you do (like as if I asked if a proton can travel at beyond-speed of light velocities) then this thread is over.
You should study the consequences of the virial theorem (valid in both classical and quantum physics) as investigated in the context of plasma confinement. For example, from G. Schmidt, Physics of High Temperature Plasmas (2nd ed.), pg. 72:
1724274156274.png

This result is here motivated by plasmoids, but it is more broadly applicable: the virial theorem shows that any localized configuration of fields, charges, and currents cannot hold itself together by any self-forces. It will dynamically expand until it is constrained by external forces.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Suekdccia
renormalize said:
You should study the consequences of the virial theorem (valid in both classical and quantum physics) as investigated in the context of plasma confinement. For example, from G. Schmidt, Physics of High Temperature Plasmas (2nd ed.), pg. 72:
View attachment 350218
This result is here motivated by plasmoids, but it is more broadly applicable: the virial theorem shows that any localized configuration of fields, charges, and currents cannot hold itself together by any self-forces. It will dynamically expand until it is constrained by external forces.
Thank you!

Just one question: would this apply to systems of any arbitrary size if they contain charges? For instance, electrons forming a Wigner crystal would be also destabilized by the theorem?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigner_crystal
 
Suekdccia said:
Just one question: would this apply to systems of any arbitrary size if they contain charges? For instance, electrons forming a Wigner crystal would be also destabilized by the theorem?
No, a Wigner crystal of electrons is stable because it is subjected to an external confining force field: a "uniform, inert, neutralizing background" like a lattice of positively-charged atomic nuclei, or an imposed magnetic field.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Suekdccia

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
9K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
5K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
6K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
7K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
13K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K