Re: [Phys-l] "filling" the space in an atom

["Todd Pedlar" <pedlto01@luther.edu>]

On Wed, 25 Oct 2006 21:19:06 -0500, Brian Whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>  
wrote:

> At 08:42 PM 10/25/2006, Jack you wrote:
> > Hi all-
> >         I agree with most of this, except the concluding paragraphs.  I
> > claim the it is impossible to conceive of an experiment that identifies
> > an empty spot between atoms (or, "near" an atom).  See, incidentally,
> > Gert Roepstorff and J. L. Uretsky,
> >   Phys. Rev. 152, 1213-1218 (1966)
> >                                         Regards,
> >                                                 Jack
>
> Though I admit to a certain difficulty with the interior space
>   of atoms, where perhaps particle ballistics shed metaphorical light,
> the space between atoms has been well visualized  instrumentally
>   has it not?

I presume what you're referring to is the atomic force microscope or
electron microscope images that show individual atoms on surfaces...
or perhaps x-ray diffraction images that show the presence of scattering
centers.

In the first case, you're seeing the
___________________________________________________
Todd K. Pedlar
Assistant Professor of Physics, Luther College
pedlto01@luther.edu
___________________________________________________
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and
won't change the subject." -- Winston Churchill