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Electrons seen in orbit

The classic textbook shape of electron orbitals has now been directly observed. As well as confirming the established theory, this work may be a first step to understanding high-temperature superconductivity.

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Figure 1: Textbook examples of electron orbitals.
Figure 2: The family of 3d orbitals.

References

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Correspondence to Colin J. Humphreys.

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Humphreys, C. Electrons seen in orbit. Nature 401, 21–22 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/43323

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