Colloque des sciences mathématiques du Québec

11 février 2011 de 16 h 00 à 18 h 00 (heure de Montréal/HNE) Sur place

The 5-electron case of Thompson's problem

Colloque par Richard Schwartz

Thompson's problem, which dates from 1904, asks how electrons arrange themselves on the sphere so as to minimize their total potential (Coulomb) energy. Chemists and physicists have long "known" that 5 electrons will arrange themselves into a triangular bi-pyramid so as to minimize their potential energy. Recently I worked out a rigorous, computer-aided proof of this result. In my talk, I'll explain the main ideas of the proof.

Adresse

UQAM, Pav. Sherbrooke, 200, rue Sherbrooke O., salle SH-3420