Mathematical Conversations

The stability of atoms and the ionization conjecture

An atom is made of a positively charged nucleus and negatively charged electrons, interacting with each other via Coulomb forces. In this talk, I will review what is known, from a mathematical perspective, about this paradigmatic model, with a particular focus on questions of (in)stability. In particular, I will discuss the ionization conjecture, which posits an upper bound on the number of electrons that an atom can bind in a stable state.

Date & Time

November 14, 2018 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Location

Dilworth Room

Affiliation

Princeton University

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