A New Interpretation of Electron Motion in Hydrogen Atoms via Attosecond Detection

The Copenhagen interpretation of traditional quantum mechanics describes the behaviour of electrons within atoms using probability clouds, superposition states and instantaneous transitions, denying that electrons have definite motion orbits and continuous evolutionary processes. Based on the author’s two previous core research findings on the continuous motion of extranuclear electrons, this paper cites experimental data from state of the art attosecond ultrashort laser pulses. Through time scale matching, reconstruction of motion sequences and logical deduction constrained by experimental results, it demonstrates that electrons inside atoms possess stable, continuous and periodic orbital motion characteristics. This paper puts forward mechanical challenges to the probability cloud picture and the hypothesis of instantaneous transitions: since electrons have rest mass, any abrupt change in position must be accompanied by corresponding instantaneous external forces as well as energy input or output. An instantaneous transition implies that position change occurs without consuming finite time, which is equivalent to superluminal displacement. This hypothesis lacks a corresponding dynamical mechanism and thus involves profound physical contradictions. In contrast, the continuous motion model yields a complete and self consistent physical explanation solely based on the known Coulomb electrostatic attraction, Lorentz magnetic force and electron inertia. Current attosecond detection results are fully adequate to validate the reasonableness of prior calculations of hydrogen atom orbits and confirm the physical reality of the continuous orbital motion of electrons. This poses a fundamental challenge to the traditional interpretation featuring probability clouds and instantaneous transitions with no intermediate processes.