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Atomic Structure01:33

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Overview
Nuclear Stability03:18

Nuclear Stability

Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
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An atom comprises protons and neutrons, which are contained inside the dense, central core called the nucleus, with electrons present around the nucleus. Taking into account the wave–particle duality of electrons and the uncertainty in position around the nucleus, quantum mechanics provides a more accurate model for the atomic structure. It describes atomic orbitals as the regions around the nucleus where electrons of discrete energy exist, characterized by four quantum numbers:  n, l, ml, and...
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The number of nuclear spins aligned in the lower energy state is slightly greater than those in the higher energy state. In the presence of an external magnetic field, as the spins precess at the Larmor frequency, the excess population results in a net magnetization oriented along the z axis. When a pulse or a short burst of radio waves at the Larmor frequency is applied along the x axis, the coupling of frequencies causes resonance and flips the nuclear spins of the excess population from the...
Atomic Structure01:17

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Structure and Coordination Determination of Peptide-metal Complexes Using 1D and 2D 1H NMR
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The problem with determining atomic structure at the nanoscale.

Simon J L Billinge1, Igor Levin

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. billinge@pa.msu.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 28, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Determining the atomic structure of nanoscale materials is challenging due to limitations in current methods. A new "complex modeling" approach combining theory and experiment is proposed for these complex functional materials.

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Probe Type II Band Alignment in One-Dimensional Van Der Waals Heterostructures Using First-Principles Calculations
13:56

Probe Type II Band Alignment in One-Dimensional Van Der Waals Heterostructures Using First-Principles Calculations

Published on: October 12, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Structural Analysis

Background:

  • Emerging complex functional materials exhibit atomic order primarily at the nanoscale.
  • Existing crystallographic methods are inadequate for determining the atomic structure of these nanostructured materials.
  • There is a critical need for new, broadly applicable, quantitative, and robust nanoscale structure determination methods.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of various classes of nanostructured materials.
  • To review current methods for studying the structure of nanostructured materials.
  • To propose a new paradigm for nanoscale structure determination.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on nanostructured materials and their characterization techniques.
  • Analysis of the limitations of current structural analysis methods at the nanoscale.
  • Conceptual framework development for a
  • complex modeling
  • paradigm.

Main Results:

  • Identification of key challenges in nanoscale atomic structure determination.
  • Overview of current, albeit limited, techniques for nanostructure analysis.
  • Proposal for an integrated computational framework combining theory and experiment.

Conclusions:

  • Current methods fail to adequately solve the atomic structure of nanoscale materials.
  • A multidisciplinary approach involving materials science, physics, chemistry, computer science, and applied mathematics is essential.
  • A "complex modeling" paradigm, integrating theory and experiment in a self-consistent computational framework, offers a promising solution for nanoscale structure determination.