Wave Mechanics: Behavior of a Distributed Electron Charge in an Atom

TL;DR

This paper proposes a distributed electron charge model in an atom, using classical electrodynamics and mechanics to explain atomic energies and angular momentum, challenging the traditional quantum mechanics framework.

Contribution

It introduces a classical mechanics-based model of the electron charge distribution in atoms, providing calculations that align with experimental data without quantum formalism.

Findings

Calculated energies match experimental data closely

Distributed charge model reproduces atomic angular momentum

Ground-state angular momentum aligns with quantum spin value

Abstract

In Part one of this Paper a hypothesis is forwarded of the electron charge in an atom existing in a distributed form. To check it by methods of electrodynamics and mechanics (without invoking the formalism of quantum mechanics and the concepts of the wave function and of the operators), the potential, kinetic, and total energies were calculated for three states of the hydrogen atom, which were found to agree closely with the available experimental data. The Part two of the Paper offers additional assumptions concerning various scenarios of motion of elements of the distributed electron charge which obey fully the laws of theoretical mechanics. The angular momentum of the ground-state hydrogen atom calculated in the frame of theoretical mechanics is shown to coincide with the spin which is $\hbar/2$.