Electrons in antinodes of orbitals

[kakarot1905]

Hi

Thinking of the structure of an atom in terms of spherical harmonics; the mathematics of which is the base of Schrödinger's wave equation.

If its possible to make the electrons gather at the antinodes, what are the possible applications/uses of this? (Simply a new area for research? or perhaps something greater?)

Please share any thoughts on what you might find interesting in an 'antinode' atom?

Thanks
Kakarot1905

 

[cgk]

1) I've never heard the word antinode. What is that supposed to be?
2) Spherical harmonics are related to problems with spherical symmetry and laplace differential operators. The only thing they have to do with the Schrödinger equation is that they are often seen in this context because the atom problem has spherical symmetry. They are certainly not be basis of any mathematics, merely some special solutions.

 

[kakarot1905]

1) I've never heard the word antinode. What is that supposed to be?
2) Spherical harmonics are related to problems with spherical symmetry and laplace differential operators. The only thing they have to do with the Schrödinger equation is that they are often seen in this context because the atom problem has spherical symmetry. They are certainly not be basis of any mathematics, merely some special solutions.

I was assuming that atomic orbitals to be some kind of spherical waves..

Nodes and Antinodes:
[URL]http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/h4.gif[/URL]

 

[kakarot1905]

1) I've never heard the word antinode. What is that supposed to be?
2) Spherical harmonics are related to problems with spherical symmetry and laplace differential operators. The only thing they have to do with the Schrödinger equation is that they are often seen in this context because the atom problem has spherical symmetry. They are certainly not be basis of any mathematics, merely some special solutions.

This article might help what I am trying to describe:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Node_(physics)"

//Read the chemistry bit

 

[kakarot1905]

This article might help what I am trying to describe:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Node_(physics)"

//Read the chemistry bit

I realized that electrons can be described as quantum mechanical waves...
I was assuming that electrons are point-like particles stuck in the nodal region of some kind of force field created by the nucleus - I was wrong.

 

[chrisbaird]

I think you are misunderstanding what an electron is. The wavefunction is the electron. The antinodes are part of the electron. That's like asking, "how do I gather an oscillating rope at its antinodes?" or "How do I stand in my own lap?" If you where to gather the rope to the point in space where there was an antinode, it would not be an antinode anymore. You can alter an electron's wavefunction so that it bunches up more at certain points in space, for instance by applying magnetic fields, but the electron becomes a new wavefunction shape with new nodes, etc.

 

[chrisbaird]

1) I've never heard the word antinode. What is that supposed to be?
2) Spherical harmonics are related to problems with spherical symmetry and laplace differential operators. The only thing they have to do with the Schrödinger equation is that they are often seen in this context because the atom problem has spherical symmetry. They are certainly not be basis of any mathematics, merely some special solutions.

Not to be rude, but perhaps if you don't know a word, let someone else answer who does, instead of just posting "I don't know" which is not very helpful.

Cheers!
- Chris