The quantum mechanical model of the photon and electron is considered. The photon is conceived of as a particle moving with the speed of light which is accompanied by the wave function of the photon spreading out with an infinite speed. The wave function of the electron is introduced in terms of virtual photons tied to the electron. A description of electrostatic and magnetostatic interactions is given through the wave functions of electrons. The approach provides an explanation of the results of recent experiments measuring the speed of propagation of the bound magnetic field.The quantum mechanical model of the photon and electron is considered. The photon is conceived of as a particle moving with the speed of light which is accompanied by the wave function of the photon spreading out with an infinite speed. The wave function of the electron is introduced in terms of virtual photons tied to the electron. A description of electrostatic and magnetostatic interactions is given through the wave functions of electrons. The approach provides an explanation of the results of recent experiments measuring the speed of propagation of the bound magnetic field.

Journal of Applied PhysicsDec 1, 20101 citation

Quantum Non-Demolition Measurement of Cyclotron Excitations and Wave Function Collapse

Irene Marzoli, P. Tombesi

The quantum non-demolition measurement of the cyclotron excitations of an electron trapped in a Penning trap is shown to be accessible, with the modern technology, by only considering the coupling between the axial and the cyclotron motions induced by the relativistic correction to the electron's mass. It is shown that such a measurement is possible only when the spin state of the electron is preassigned and the wave function will then collapse into a Fock state. When this is not the case the wave function of the electron will collapse into an entangled state.The quantum non-demolition measurement of the cyclotron excitations of an electron trapped in a Penning trap is shown to be accessible, with the modern technology, by only considering the coupling between the axial and the cyclotron motions induced by the relativistic correction to the electron's mass. It is shown that such a measurement is possible only when the spin state of the electron is preassigned and the wave function will then collapse into a Fock state. When this is not the case the wave function of the electron will collapse into an entangled state.

Europhysics Letters (EPL)Dec 1, 199311 citations

Understanding Electronic Wave Functions

David M. Ceperley

Springer eBooksJan 1, 19990 citations

Quadrupole moments as measures of electron correlation in two-electron atoms

Sandra C. Ceraulo, R. Stephen Berry

We have calculated quadrupole moments, ${\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{z}\mathit{z}}$ , of helium in several of its doubly excited states and in two of its singly excited Rydberg states, and of the alkaline-earth atoms Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba in their ground and low-lying excited states. The calculations use well-converged, frozen-core configuration-interaction (CI) wave functions and, for interpretive purposes, Hartree-Fock (HF) atomic wave functions and single-term, optimized, molecular rotor-vibrator (RV) wave functions. The quadrupole moments calculated using RV wave functions serve as a test of the validity of the correlated, moleculelike model, which has been used to describe the effects of electron correlation in these two-electron and pseudo-two-electron atoms. Likewise, the quadrupole moments calculated with HF wave functions test the validity of the independent-particle model. In addition to their predictive use and their application to testing simple models, the quadrupole moments calculated with CI wave functions reveal previously unavailable information about the electronic structure of these atoms. Experimental methods by which these quadrupole moments might be measured are also discussed. The quadrupole moments computed from CI wave functions are presented as predictions; measurements of ${\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{z}\mathit{z}}$ have been made for only two singly excited Rydberg states of He, and a value of ${\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{z}\mathit{z}}$ has been computed previously for only one of the states reported here. We present these results in the hope of stimulating others to measure some of these quadrupole moments.We have calculated quadrupole moments, ${\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{z}\mathit{z}}$, of helium in several of its doubly excited states and in two of its singly excited Rydberg states, and of the alkaline-earth atoms Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba in their ground and low-lying excited states. The calculations use well-converged, frozen-core configuration-interaction (CI) wave functions and, for interpretive purposes, Hartree-Fock (HF) atomic wave functions and single-term, optimized, molecular rotor-vibrator (RV) wave functions. The quadrupole moments calculated using RV wave functions serve as a test of the validity of the correlated, moleculelike model, which has been used to describe the effects of electron correlation in these two-electron and pseudo-two-electron atoms. Likewise, the quadrupole moments calculated with HF wave functions test the validity of the independent-particle model. In addition to their predictive use and their application to testing simple models, the quadrupole moments calculated with CI wave functions reveal previously unavailable information about the electronic structure of these atoms. Experimental methods by which these quadrupole moments might be measured are also discussed. The quadrupole moments computed from CI wave functions are presented as predictions; measurements of ${\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{z}\mathit{z}}$ have been made for only two singly excited Rydberg states of He, and a value of ${\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{z}\mathit{z}}$ has been computed previously for only one of the states reported here. We present these results in the hope of stimulating others to measure some of these quadrupole moments.

Physical Review AOct 1, 199116 citations

We have calculated quadrupole moments,

{\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{z}\mathit{z}}

, of helium in several of its doubly excited states and in two of its singly excited Rydberg states, and of the alkaline-earth atoms Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba in their ground and low-lying excited states. The calculations use well-converged, frozen-core configuration-interaction (CI) wave functions and, for interpretive purposes, Hartree-Fock (HF) atomic wave functions and single-term, optimized, molecular rotor-vibrator (RV) wave functions. The quadrupole moments calculated using RV wave functions serve as a test of the validity of the correlated, moleculelike model, which has been used to describe the effects of electron correlation in these two-electron and pseudo-two-electron atoms. Likewise, the quadrupole moments calculated with HF wave functions test the validity of the independent-particle model. In addition to their predictive use and their application to testing simple models, the quadrupole moments calculated with CI wave functions reveal previously unavailable information about the electronic structure of these atoms. Experimental methods by which these quadrupole moments might be measured are also discussed. The quadrupole moments computed from CI wave functions are presented as predictions; measurements of

{\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{z}\mathit{z}}

have been made for only two singly excited Rydberg states of He, and a value of

{\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{z}\mathit{z}}

has been computed previously for only one of the states reported here. We present these results in the hope of stimulating others to measure some of these quadrupole moments.