Fermi hole

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The Pauli exclusion principle is the "rule" that no more than two electrons can be in the same orbital. The "rule" traces to a deep algebraic property of nature that has nothing whatsoever to do with the charge on electrons. The essence is that many-electron wave functions must change sign when the labels on any two electrons are interchanged. This property is called antisymmetry, and its essential consequence is that electrons either stay out of one another's way, forming what is called a Fermi hole, or clump together, forming what is called a Fermi heap. Since electrons repel one another electrically, Fermi holes and Fermi heaps have drastic effects on the energy of many-electron atoms. The most profound result is the periodic properties of the elements.

Animations of Fermi holes and Fermi heaps in the carbon atom are here^[1]. Details of the origin and significance of Fermi holes and Fermi heaps in the structure of atoms are discussed here^[2].

[edit] References

1. ^ Dill, Dan, Fermi holes and Fermi heaps. URL checked 10 November 2006
2. ^ Dill, Dan, Many-electron atoms: Fermi holes and Fermi heaps. URL checked 10 November 2006

• Dill, Dan (2006). Notes on General Chemistry (2nd ed.), Chapter 3.5, Many-electron atoms: Fermi holes and Fermi heaps. W. H. Freeman. ISBN 1-4292--0068-4.

--Dan Dill 19:49, 10 November 2006 (UTC)