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   sci.physics.research      Current physics research. (Moderated)      17,516 messages   

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   Message 15,788 of 17,516   
   Jos Bergervoet to All   
   Hydrogen paradox   
   19 Aug 17 00:44:39   
   
   From: jos.bergervoet@xs4all.nl   
      
   In solving the hydrogen atom we assume a 1/r electric potential.   
   But since the electron wave function squared is a source for the   
   electric field, this should be a screened potential. But if we   
   do that, then it will be quite different from 1/r. At large   
   distances it will vanish, and at distances around the Bohr radius   
   the potential will already be significantly reduced. The paradox:   
      
      1) Energy levels will become quite different from known hydrogen   
   levels with this changed potetial.   
      2) But without the change, we do not get the vanishing of the   
   field outside the atom, so the atom is not neutral!   
      
   How to easily resolve this? Can one use a 2-particle wave function   
      Psi_i_mu(x_e, x_p)   
   with the position coordinates x_e and x_p of the electron and the   
   photon respectively, and both their spin-indices?   
      
   Or is another simplification starting from full field theory   
   applicable? I can hardly imagine that an elaborate numerical   
   lattice approach is needed just to solve hydrogen without   
   inconsistent behavior for points 1) and 2) mentioned above..   
      
   --   
   Jos   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)   

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