Re: IONS in metals

[jmclean@chem.ucsd.edu (James Mclean)]

Ludwik Kowalski wrote:
> Bob Sciamanda wrote:
>
> > Forces are human inventions which help us model our
> > observations. However, quantum mechanical models are
> > not always simply understandable in terms of this concept.
>
> As far as I remember, the central concept of QM is potential, V.
> We must specify a potential function to write down the
> Schroedinger equations for specific problems, for example,
> Coulomb's potential in the case of the single hydrogen atom.
> What prevents me from using F=-grad(V) and to think that
> there is a force behind any smooth potential function?

I think what Bob was emphasizing is that in QM, the Pauli exclusion
principle "pushes things around", but is not describable as a force.
That's not to say that -grad(V) isn't important or sensable;  it's just
that it is no longer the whole story.

-- 
--James McLean
jmclean@chem.ucsd.edu
post doc
UC San Diego, Chemistry