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> Is Feynmanium the last chemical element that can physically exist? That is, what are the chemical consequences of having an element with an atomic number abov
by hvidgaard 6y ago
> Is Feynmanium the last chemical element that can physically exist? That is, what are the chemical consequences of having an element with an atomic number above 137, whose 1s electrons must travel faster than the speed of light?
Just a nitpick, electrons do not travel - they simply exist as a quantum phenomena, with a probability of existing in certain places. That said, as your link also explains, when we take the electron energy into consideration, it seems like there is a limit for "regular" atoms, but beyond that they may simply exhibit weird quantum mechanics. We have no idea.
- Ma8ee 6y agoOf course they travel, or at least they have a wave function in momentum space which makes it possible to calculate the probability that we will find it at a certain point further away at a later time. And we have very good ideas. Quantum Mechanics is not something mysteriously handwaving mumbo jumbo. It is used every day to make very precise predictions.