Thomson problem
The Thomson problem is to determine the minimum energy configuration of N electrons on the surface of a sphere that repel each other with a force given by Coulomb's law. The physicist J. J. Thomson posed the problem in 1904[1] after creating his so-called plum pudding model of the atom. Related problems include the study of the geometry of the minimum energy configuration and the study of the large N behavior of the minimum energy.
Contents |
Mathematical statement
Let
be a collection of
distinct points on the unit sphere centered at the origin. The energy of this configuration of points is defined to be
. Thomson's problem is to minimize this energy over all possible collections of
distinct points on the unit sphere.
Known solutions
Minimal energy configurations have been rigorously identified in only a handful of cases. In the case of two points, the optimal configuration consists of antipodal points. For N=3, three equidistant points on a great circle realize the minimum energy configuration. .[2] The vertices of a regular tetrahedron minimize the energy in the case of 4 points. Yudin [3] showed that the vertices of the regular octahedron solve the problem in the case of 6 vertices. N.N. Andreev [4] provides a method to prove that the vertex set of the regular icosahedron provides a solution in the case of 12 vertices. In 2010, Richard Schwartz announced a mathematically rigorous computer-aided solution for 5 points.[5]
| "No fact discovered about the atom can be trivial, nor fail to accelerate the progress of physical science, for the greater part of natural philosophy is the outcome of the structure and mechanism of the atom." |
| —Sir J. J. Thomson[6] |
Generalizations
One can also ask for ground states of particles interacting with arbitrary potentials. To be mathematically precise, let f be a decreasing real-valued function, and define the energy functional 
Traditionally, one considers
. Notable cases include α = ∞, the Tammes problem (packing); α = 1, the Thomson problem; α = 0, Whyte's problem (to maximize the product of distances).
One may also consider configurations of N points on a sphere of higher dimension.
Relations to other scientific problems
Though experimental evidence led to the abandonment of Thomson's plum pudding model, Thomson's problem has since found a role in the study of other physical models. These include multi-electron bubbles and the surface ordering of liquid metal drops confined in Pauli traps.
The generalized Thomson problem arises, for example, in determining the arrangements of the protein subunits which comprise the shells of spherical viruses. The "particles" in this application are clusters of protein subunits arranged on a shell. Other realizations include regular arrangements of colloid particles in colloidosomes, proposed for encapsulation of active ingredients such as drugs, nutrients or living cells, fullerene patterns of carbon atoms, and VSEPR Theory. An example with long-range logarithmic interactions is provided by the Abrikosov vortices which would form at low temperatures in a superconducting metal shell with a large monopole at the center.
Configurations of smallest known energy
In the following table
is the number of points (charges) in a configuration.
is the energy. The symmetry type is given in Schönflies notation (see Point groups in three dimensions).
are the positions of the charges. Most symmetry types require the vector sum of the positions (and thus the electric dipole moment) to be zero.
It is customary to also consider the polyhedron formed by the convex hull of the points. Thus
is the number of vertices where the given number of edges meet.
is the total number of edges and
and
are the number of triangle and quadrilateral faces.
is the smallest angle between any two points.
| N | ![]() |
Symmetry | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Equivalent Polyhedron |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0.500000000 | ![]() |
0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 180.000° | |
| 3 | 1.732050808 | ![]() |
0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 120.000° | |
| 4 | 3.674234614 | ![]() |
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 109.471° | tetrahedron |
| 5 | 6.474691495 | ![]() |
0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 90.000° | triangular dipyramid |
| 6 | 9.985281374 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 90.000° | octahedron |
| 7 | 14.452977414 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 0 | 72.000° | pentagonal dipyramid |
| 8 | 19.675287861 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 71.694° | square antiprism |
| 9 | 25.759986531 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 61.190° | triaugmented triangular prism |
| 10 | 32.716949460 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 16 | 0 | 64.996° | gyroelongated square dipyramid |
| 11 | 40.596450510 | ![]() |
0.013219635 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 18 | 0 | 58.540° | |
| 12 | 49.165253058 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 20 | 0 | 63.435° | icosahedron |
| 13 | 58.853230612 | ![]() |
0.008820367 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 22 | 0 | 52.317° | |
| 14 | 69.306363297 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 24 | 0 | 52.866° | gyroelongated hexagonal dipyramid |
| 15 | 80.670244114 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 26 | 0 | 49.225° | |
| 16 | 92.911655302 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 28 | 0 | 48.936° | |
| 17 | 106.050404829 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 30 | 0 | 50.108° | |
| 18 | 120.084467447 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 32 | 0 | 47.534° | |
| 19 | 135.089467557 | ![]() |
0.000135163 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 32 | 1 | 44.910° | |
| 20 | 150.881568334 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 36 | 0 | 46.093° | |
| 21 | 167.641622399 | ![]() |
0.001406124 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 38 | 0 | 44.321° | |
| 22 | 185.287536149 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 40 | 0 | 43.302° | |
| 23 | 203.930190663 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 42 | 0 | 41.481° | |
| 24 | 223.347074052 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 32 | 6 | 42.065° | snub cube |
| 25 | 243.812760299 | ![]() |
0.001021305 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 44 | 1 | 39.610° | |
| 26 | 265.133326317 | ![]() |
0.001919065 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 48 | 0 | 38.842° | |
| 27 | 287.302615033 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 50 | 0 | 39.940° | |
| 28 | 310.491542358 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 52 | 0 | 37.824° | |
| 29 | 334.634439920 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 54 | 0 | 36.391° | |
| 30 | 359.603945904 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 56 | 0 | 36.942° | |
| 31 | 385.530838063 | ![]() |
0.003204712 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 58 | 0 | 36.373° | |
| 32 | 412.261274651 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 60 | 0 | 37.377° | |
| 33 | 440.204057448 | ![]() |
0.004356481 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 92 | 60 | 1 | 33.700° | |
| 34 | 468.904853281 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 64 | 0 | 33.273° | |
| 35 | 498.569872491 | ![]() |
0.000419208 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 99 | 66 | 0 | 33.100° | |
| 36 | 529.122408375 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 68 | 0 | 33.229° | |
| 37 | 560.618887731 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 70 | 0 | 32.332° | |
| 38 | 593.038503566 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 72 | 0 | 33.236° | |
| 39 | 626.389009017 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 74 | 0 | 32.053° | |
| 40 | 660.675278835 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 114 | 76 | 0 | 31.916° | |
| 41 | 695.916744342 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 117 | 78 | 0 | 31.528° | |
| 42 | 732.078107544 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 80 | 0 | 31.245° | |
| 43 | 769.190846459 | ![]() |
0.000399668 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 123 | 82 | 0 | 30.867° | |
| 44 | 807.174263085 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 72 | 6 | 31.258° | |
| 45 | 846.188401061 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 86 | 0 | 30.207° | |
| 46 | 886.167113639 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 88 | 0 | 29.790° | |
| 47 | 927.059270680 | ![]() |
0.002482914 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 134 | 88 | 1 | 28.787° | |
| 48 | 968.713455344 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 80 | 6 | 29.690° | |
| 49 | 1011.557182654 | ![]() |
0.001529341 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 141 | 94 | 0 | 28.387° | |
| 50 | 1055.182314726 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 144 | 96 | 0 | 29.231° | |
| 51 | 1099.819290319 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 147 | 98 | 0 | 28.165° | |
| 52 | 1145.418964319 | ![]() |
0.000457327 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 100 | 0 | 27.670° | |
| 53 | 1191.922290416 | ![]() |
0.000278469 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 150 | 96 | 3 | 27.137° | |
| 54 | 1239.361474729 | ![]() |
0.000137870 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 104 | 0 | 27.030° | |
| 55 | 1287.772720783 | ![]() |
0.000391696 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 159 | 106 | 0 | 26.615° | |
| 56 | 1337.094945276 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 162 | 108 | 0 | 26.683° | |
| 57 | 1387.383229253 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 165 | 110 | 0 | 26.702° | |
| 58 | 1438.618250640 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 168 | 112 | 0 | 26.155° | |
| 59 | 1490.773335279 | ![]() |
0.000154286 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 171 | 114 | 0 | 26.170° | |
| 60 | 1543.830400976 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 174 | 116 | 0 | 25.958° | |
| 61 | 1597.941830199 | ![]() |
0.001091717 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 49 | 0 | 0 | 177 | 118 | 0 | 25.392° | |
| 62 | 1652.909409898 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 120 | 0 | 25.880° | |
| 63 | 1708.879681503 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 183 | 122 | 0 | 25.257° | |
| 64 | 1765.802577927 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 186 | 124 | 0 | 24.920° | |
| 65 | 1823.667960264 | ![]() |
0.000399515 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 189 | 126 | 0 | 24.527° | |
| 66 | 1882.441525304 | ![]() |
0.000776245 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 192 | 128 | 0 | 24.765° | |
| 67 | 1942.122700406 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 195 | 130 | 0 | 24.727° | |
| 68 | 2002.874701749 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 132 | 0 | 24.433° | |
| 69 | 2064.533483235 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 201 | 134 | 0 | 24.137° | |
| 70 | 2127.100901551 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 200 | 128 | 4 | 24.291° | |
| 71 | 2190.649906425 | ![]() |
0.001256769 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 207 | 138 | 0 | 23.803° | |
| 72 | 2255.001190975 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 140 | 0 | 24.492° | |
| 73 | 2320.633883745 | ![]() |
0.001572959 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 213 | 142 | 0 | 22.810° | |
| 74 | 2387.072981838 | ![]() |
0.000641539 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 216 | 144 | 0 | 22.966° | |
| 75 | 2454.369689040 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 63 | 0 | 0 | 219 | 146 | 0 | 22.736° | |
| 76 | 2522.674871841 | ![]() |
0.000943474 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 222 | 148 | 0 | 22.886° | |
| 77 | 2591.850152354 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 65 | 0 | 0 | 225 | 150 | 0 | 23.286° | |
| 78 | 2662.046474566 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 66 | 0 | 0 | 228 | 152 | 0 | 23.426° | |
| 79 | 2733.248357479 | ![]() |
0.000702921 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 63 | 1 | 0 | 230 | 152 | 1 | 22.636° | |
| 80 | 2805.355875981 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 232 | 152 | 2 | 22.778° | |
| 81 | 2878.522829664 | ![]() |
0.000194289 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 237 | 158 | 0 | 21.892° | |
| 82 | 2952.569675286 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 240 | 160 | 0 | 22.206° | |
| 83 | 3027.528488921 | ![]() |
0.000339815 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 67 | 2 | 0 | 243 | 162 | 0 | 21.646° | |
| 84 | 3103.465124431 | ![]() |
0.000401973 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 246 | 164 | 0 | 21.513° | |
| 85 | 3180.361442939 | ![]() |
0.000416581 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 249 | 166 | 0 | 21.498° | |
| 86 | 3258.211605713 | ![]() |
0.001378932 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 252 | 168 | 0 | 21.522° | |
| 87 | 3337.000750014 | ![]() |
0.000754863 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 255 | 170 | 0 | 21.456° | |
| 88 | 3416.720196758 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 76 | 0 | 0 | 258 | 172 | 0 | 21.486° | |
| 89 | 3497.439018625 | ![]() |
0.000070891 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 77 | 0 | 0 | 261 | 174 | 0 | 21.182° | |
| 90 | 3579.091222723 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 264 | 176 | 0 | 21.230° | |
| 91 | 3661.713699320 | ![]() |
0.000033221 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 79 | 0 | 0 | 267 | 178 | 0 | 21.105° | |
| 92 | 3745.291636241 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 80 | 0 | 0 | 270 | 180 | 0 | 21.026° | |
| 93 | 3829.844338421 | ![]() |
0.000213246 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 273 | 182 | 0 | 20.751° | |
| 94 | 3915.309269620 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 276 | 184 | 0 | 20.952° | |
| 95 | 4001.771675565 | ![]() |
0.000116638 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 83 | 0 | 0 | 279 | 186 | 0 | 20.711° | |
| 96 | 4089.154010060 | ![]() |
0.000036310 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 282 | 188 | 0 | 20.687° | |
| 97 | 4177.533599622 | ![]() |
0.000096437 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 285 | 190 | 0 | 20.450° | |
| 98 | 4266.822464156 | ![]() |
0.000112916 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 86 | 0 | 0 | 288 | 192 | 0 | 20.422° | |
| 99 | 4357.139163132 | ![]() |
0.000156508 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 87 | 0 | 0 | 291 | 194 | 0 | 20.284° | |
| 100 | 4448.350634331 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 294 | 196 | 0 | 20.297° | |
| 101 | 4540.590051694 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 89 | 0 | 0 | 297 | 198 | 0 | 20.011° | |
| 102 | 4633.736565899 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 200 | 0 | 20.040° | |
| 103 | 4727.836616833 | ![]() |
0.000201245 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 91 | 0 | 0 | 303 | 202 | 0 | 19.907° | |
| 104 | 4822.876522746 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 92 | 0 | 0 | 306 | 204 | 0 | 19.957° | |
| 105 | 4919.000637616 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 93 | 0 | 0 | 309 | 206 | 0 | 19.842° | |
| 106 | 5015.984595705 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 94 | 0 | 0 | 312 | 208 | 0 | 19.658° | |
| 107 | 5113.953547724 | ![]() |
0.000064137 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 95 | 0 | 0 | 315 | 210 | 0 | 19.327° | |
| 108 | 5212.813507831 | ![]() |
0.000432525 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 96 | 0 | 0 | 318 | 212 | 0 | 19.327° | |
| 109 | 5312.735079920 | ![]() |
0.000647299 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 93 | 2 | 0 | 321 | 214 | 0 | 19.103° | |
| 110 | 5413.549294192 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 98 | 0 | 0 | 324 | 216 | 0 | 19.476° | |
| 111 | 5515.293214587 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 99 | 0 | 0 | 327 | 218 | 0 | 19.255° | |
| 112 | 5618.044882327 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 330 | 220 | 0 | 19.351° | |
| 113 | 5721.824978027 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 101 | 0 | 0 | 333 | 222 | 0 | 18.978° | |
| 114 | 5826.521572163 | ![]() |
0.000149772 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 102 | 0 | 0 | 336 | 224 | 0 | 18.836° | |
| 115 | 5932.181285777 | ![]() |
0.000049972 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 103 | 0 | 0 | 339 | 226 | 0 | 18.458° | |
| 116 | 6038.815593579 | ![]() |
0.000259726 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 104 | 0 | 0 | 342 | 228 | 0 | 18.386° | |
| 117 | 6146.342446579 | ![]() |
0.000127609 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 105 | 0 | 0 | 345 | 230 | 0 | 18.566° | |
| 118 | 6254.877027790 | ![]() |
0.000332475 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 106 | 0 | 0 | 348 | 232 | 0 | 18.455° | |
| 119 | 6364.347317479 | ![]() |
0.000685590 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 107 | 0 | 0 | 351 | 234 | 0 | 18.336° | |
| 120 | 6474.756324980 | ![]() |
0.001373062 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 108 | 0 | 0 | 354 | 236 | 0 | 18.418° | |
| 121 | 6586.121949584 | ![]() |
0.000838863 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 109 | 0 | 0 | 357 | 238 | 0 | 18.199° | |
| 122 | 6698.374499261 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 360 | 240 | 0 | 18.612° | |
| 123 | 6811.827228174 | ![]() |
0.001939754 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 107 | 2 | 0 | 363 | 242 | 0 | 17.840° | |
| 124 | 6926.169974193 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 112 | 0 | 0 | 366 | 244 | 0 | 18.111° | |
| 125 | 7041.473264023 | ![]() |
0.000088274 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 113 | 0 | 0 | 369 | 246 | 0 | 17.867° | |
| 126 | 7157.669224867 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 100 | 8 | 0 | 372 | 248 | 0 | 17.920° | |
| 127 | 7274.819504675 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 115 | 0 | 0 | 375 | 250 | 0 | 17.877° | |
| 128 | 7393.007443068 | ![]() |
0.000054132 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 116 | 0 | 0 | 378 | 252 | 0 | 17.814° | |
| 129 | 7512.107319268 | ![]() |
0.000030099 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 117 | 0 | 0 | 381 | 254 | 0 | 17.743° | |
| 130 | 7632.167378912 | ![]() |
0.000025622 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 118 | 0 | 0 | 384 | 256 | 0 | 17.683° | |
| 131 | 7753.205166941 | ![]() |
0.000305133 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 119 | 0 | 0 | 387 | 258 | 0 | 17.511° | |
| 132 | 7875.045342797 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 390 | 260 | 0 | 17.958° | |
| 133 | 7998.179212898 | ![]() |
0.000591438 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 121 | 0 | 0 | 393 | 262 | 0 | 17.133° | |
| 134 | 8122.089721194 | ![]() |
0.000470268 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 122 | 0 | 0 | 396 | 264 | 0 | 17.214° | |
| 135 | 8246.909486992 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 399 | 266 | 0 | 17.431° | |
| 136 | 8372.743302539 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 124 | 0 | 0 | 402 | 268 | 0 | 17.485° | |
| 137 | 8499.534494782 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 405 | 270 | 0 | 17.560° | |
| 138 | 8627.406389880 | ![]() |
0.000473576 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 126 | 0 | 0 | 408 | 272 | 0 | 16.924° | |
| 139 | 8756.227056057 | ![]() |
0.000404228 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 411 | 274 | 0 | 16.673° | |
| 140 | 8885.980609041 | ![]() |
0.000630351 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 126 | 1 | 0 | 414 | 276 | 0 | 16.773° | |
| 141 | 9016.615349190 | ![]() |
0.000376365 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 126 | 0 | 1 | 417 | 278 | 0 | 16.962° | |
| 142 | 9148.271579993 | ![]() |
0.000550138 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 130 | 0 | 0 | 420 | 280 | 0 | 16.840° | |
| 143 | 9280.839851192 | ![]() |
0.000255449 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 131 | 0 | 0 | 423 | 282 | 0 | 16.782° | |
| 144 | 9414.371794460 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 132 | 0 | 0 | 426 | 284 | 0 | 16.953° | |
| 145 | 9548.928837232 | ![]() |
0.000094938 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 133 | 0 | 0 | 429 | 286 | 0 | 16.841° | |
| 146 | 9684.381825575 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 134 | 0 | 0 | 432 | 288 | 0 | 16.905° | |
| 147 | 9820.932378373 | ![]() |
0.000636651 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 135 | 0 | 0 | 435 | 290 | 0 | 16.458° | |
| 148 | 9958.406004270 | ![]() |
0.000203701 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 136 | 0 | 0 | 438 | 292 | 0 | 16.627° | |
| 149 | 10096.859907397 | ![]() |
0.000638186 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 133 | 2 | 0 | 441 | 294 | 0 | 16.344° | |
| 150 | 10236.196436701 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 138 | 0 | 0 | 444 | 296 | 0 | 16.405° | |
| 151 | 10376.571469275 | ![]() |
0.000153836 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 139 | 0 | 0 | 447 | 298 | 0 | 16.163° | |
| 152 | 10517.867592878 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 450 | 300 | 0 | 16.117° | |
| 153 | 10660.082748237 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 141 | 0 | 0 | 453 | 302 | 0 | 16.390° | |
| 154 | 10803.372421141 | ![]() |
0.000735800 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 142 | 0 | 0 | 456 | 304 | 0 | 16.078° | |
| 155 | 10947.574692279 | ![]() |
0.000603670 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 143 | 0 | 0 | 459 | 306 | 0 | 15.990° | |
| 156 | 11092.798311456 | ![]() |
0.000508534 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 144 | 0 | 0 | 462 | 308 | 0 | 15.822° | |
| 157 | 11238.903041156 | ![]() |
0.000357679 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 145 | 0 | 0 | 465 | 310 | 0 | 15.948° | |
| 158 | 11385.990186197 | ![]() |
0.000921918 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 146 | 0 | 0 | 468 | 312 | 0 | 15.987° | |
| 159 | 11534.023960956 | ![]() |
0.000381457 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 147 | 0 | 0 | 471 | 314 | 0 | 15.960° | |
| 160 | 11683.054805549 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 148 | 0 | 0 | 474 | 316 | 0 | 15.961° | |
| 161 | 11833.084739465 | ![]() |
0.000056447 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 149 | 0 | 0 | 477 | 318 | 0 | 15.810° | |
| 162 | 11984.050335814 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 150 | 0 | 0 | 480 | 320 | 0 | 15.813° | |
| 163 | 12136.013053220 | ![]() |
0.000120798 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 151 | 0 | 0 | 483 | 322 | 0 | 15.675° | |
| 164 | 12288.930105320 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 152 | 0 | 0 | 486 | 324 | 0 | 15.655° | |
| 165 | 12442.804451373 | ![]() |
0.000091119 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 153 | 0 | 0 | 489 | 326 | 0 | 15.651° | |
| 166 | 12597.649071323 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 146 | 4 | 0 | 492 | 328 | 0 | 15.607° | |
| 167 | 12753.469429750 | ![]() |
0.000097382 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 155 | 0 | 0 | 495 | 330 | 0 | 15.600° | |
| 168 | 12910.212672268 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 156 | 0 | 0 | 498 | 332 | 0 | 15.655° | |
| 169 | 13068.006451127 | ![]() |
0.000068102 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 155 | 1 | 0 | 501 | 334 | 0 | 15.537° | |
| 170 | 13226.681078541 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 158 | 0 | 0 | 504 | 336 | 0 | 15.569° | |
| 171 | 13386.355930717 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 159 | 0 | 0 | 507 | 338 | 0 | 15.497° | |
| 172 | 13547.018108787 | ![]() |
0.000547291 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 156 | 2 | 0 | 510 | 340 | 0 | 15.292° | |
| 173 | 13708.635243034 | ![]() |
0.000286544 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 161 | 0 | 0 | 513 | 342 | 0 | 15.225° | |
| 174 | 13871.187092292 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 162 | 0 | 0 | 516 | 344 | 0 | 15.366° | |
| 175 | 14034.781306929 | ![]() |
0.000026686 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 163 | 0 | 0 | 519 | 346 | 0 | 15.252° | |
| 176 | 14199.354775632 | ![]() |
0.000283978 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 164 | 0 | 0 | 522 | 348 | 0 | 15.101° | |
| 177 | 14364.837545298 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 165 | 0 | 0 | 525 | 350 | 0 | 15.269° | |
| 178 | 14531.309552587 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 166 | 0 | 0 | 528 | 352 | 0 | 15.145° | |
| 179 | 14698.754594220 | ![]() |
0.000125113 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 165 | 1 | 0 | 531 | 354 | 0 | 14.968° | |
| 180 | 14867.099927525 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 168 | 0 | 0 | 534 | 356 | 0 | 15.067° | |
| 181 | 15036.467239769 | ![]() |
0.000304193 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 169 | 0 | 0 | 537 | 358 | 0 | 15.002° | |
| 182 | 15206.730610906 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 170 | 0 | 0 | 540 | 360 | 0 | 15.155° | |
| 183 | 15378.166571028 | ![]() |
0.000467899 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 171 | 0 | 0 | 543 | 362 | 0 | 14.747° | |
| 184 | 15550.421450311 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 172 | 0 | 0 | 546 | 364 | 0 | 14.932° | |
| 185 | 15723.720074072 | ![]() |
0.000389762 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 173 | 0 | 0 | 549 | 366 | 0 | 14.775° | |
| 186 | 15897.897437048 | ![]() |
0.000389762 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 174 | 0 | 0 | 552 | 368 | 0 | 14.739° | |
| 187 | 16072.975186320 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 175 | 0 | 0 | 555 | 370 | 0 | 14.848° | |
| 188 | 16249.222678879 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 176 | 0 | 0 | 558 | 372 | 0 | 14.740° | |
| 189 | 16426.371938862 | ![]() |
0.000020732 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 177 | 0 | 0 | 561 | 374 | 0 | 14.671° | |
| 190 | 16604.428338501 | ![]() |
0.000586804 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 178 | 0 | 0 | 564 | 376 | 0 | 14.501° | |
| 191 | 16783.452219362 | ![]() |
0.001129202 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 177 | 1 | 0 | 567 | 378 | 0 | 14.195° | |
| 192 | 16963.338386460 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 570 | 380 | 0 | 14.819° | |
| 193 | 17144.564740880 | ![]() |
0.000985192 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 181 | 0 | 0 | 573 | 382 | 0 | 14.144° | |
| 194 | 17326.616136471 | ![]() |
0.000322358 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 182 | 0 | 0 | 576 | 384 | 0 | 14.350° | |
| 195 | 17509.489303930 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 183 | 0 | 0 | 579 | 386 | 0 | 14.375° | |
| 196 | 17693.460548082 | ![]() |
0.000315907 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 184 | 0 | 0 | 582 | 388 | 0 | 14.251° | |
| 197 | 17878.340162571 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 185 | 0 | 0 | 585 | 390 | 0 | 14.147° | |
| 198 | 18064.262177195 | ![]() |
0.000011149 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 186 | 0 | 0 | 588 | 392 | 0 | 14.237° | |
| 199 | 18251.082495640 | ![]() |
0.000534779 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 187 | 0 | 0 | 591 | 394 | 0 | 14.153° | |
| 200 | 18438.842717530 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 188 | 0 | 0 | 594 | 396 | 0 | 14.222° | |
| 201 | 18627.591226244 | ![]() |
0.001048859 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 187 | 1 | 0 | 597 | 398 | 0 | 13.830° | |
| 202 | 18817.204718262 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 190 | 0 | 0 | 600 | 400 | 0 | 14.189° | |
| 203 | 19007.981204580 | ![]() |
0.000600343 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 191 | 0 | 0 | 603 | 402 | 0 | 13.977° | |
| 204 | 19199.540775603 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 192 | 0 | 0 | 606 | 404 | 0 | 14.291° | |
| 212 | 20768.053085964 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 630 | 420 | 0 | 14.118° | |
| 214 | 21169.910410375 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 202 | 0 | 0 | 636 | 424 | 0 | 13.771° | |
| 216 | 21575.596377869 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 204 | 0 | 0 | 642 | 428 | 0 | 13.735° | |
| 217 | 21779.856080418 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 205 | 0 | 0 | 645 | 430 | 0 | 13.902° | |
| 232 | 24961.252318934 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 220 | 0 | 0 | 690 | 460 | 0 | 13.260° | |
| 255 | 30264.424251281 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 243 | 0 | 0 | 759 | 506 | 0 | 12.565° | |
| 256 | 30506.687515847 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 244 | 0 | 0 | 762 | 508 | 0 | 12.572° | |
| 257 | 30749.941417346 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 245 | 0 | 0 | 765 | 510 | 0 | 12.672° | |
| 272 | 34515.193292681 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 260 | 0 | 0 | 810 | 540 | 0 | 12.335° | |
| 282 | 37147.294418462 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 840 | 560 | 0 | 12.166° | |
| 292 | 39877.008012909 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 280 | 0 | 0 | 870 | 580 | 0 | 11.857° | |
| 306 | 43862.569780797 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 294 | 0 | 0 | 912 | 608 | 0 | 11.628° | |
| 312 | 45629.313804002 | ![]() |
0.000306163 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 930 | 620 | 0 | 11.299° | |
| 315 | 46525.825643432 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 303 | 0 | 0 | 939 | 626 | 0 | 11.337° | |
| 317 | 47128.310344520 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 305 | 0 | 0 | 945 | 630 | 0 | 11.423° | |
| 318 | 47431.056020043 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 306 | 0 | 0 | 948 | 632 | 0 | 11.219° | |
| 334 | 52407.728127822 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 322 | 0 | 0 | 996 | 664 | 0 | 11.058° | |
| 348 | 56967.472454334 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 336 | 0 | 0 | 1038 | 692 | 0 | 10.721° | |
| 357 | 59999.922939598 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 345 | 0 | 0 | 1065 | 710 | 0 | 10.728° | |
| 358 | 60341.830924588 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 346 | 0 | 0 | 1068 | 712 | 0 | 10.647° | |
| 372 | 65230.027122557 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 360 | 0 | 0 | 1110 | 740 | 0 | 10.531° | |
| 382 | 68839.426839215 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 370 | 0 | 0 | 1140 | 760 | 0 | 10.379° | |
| 390 | 71797.035335953 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 378 | 0 | 0 | 1164 | 776 | 0 | 10.222° | |
| 392 | 72546.258370889 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 380 | 0 | 0 | 1170 | 780 | 0 | 10.278° | |
| 400 | 75582.448512213 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 388 | 0 | 0 | 1194 | 796 | 0 | 10.068° | |
| 402 | 76351.192432673 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 390 | 0 | 0 | 1200 | 800 | 0 | 10.099° | |
| 432 | 88353.709681956 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 396 | 12 | 0 | 1290 | 860 | 0 | 9.556° | |
| 448 | 95115.546986209 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 412 | 12 | 0 | 1338 | 892 | 0 | 9.322° | |
| 460 | 100351.763108673 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 424 | 12 | 0 | 1374 | 916 | 0 | 9.297° | |
| 468 | 103920.871715127 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 432 | 12 | 0 | 1398 | 932 | 0 | 9.120° | |
| 470 | 104822.886324279 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 434 | 12 | 0 | 1404 | 936 | 0 | 9.059° |
References
- ^ J. J. Thomson, "On the Structure of the Atom: an Investigation of the Stability and Periods of Oscillation of a number of Corpuscles arranged at equal intervals around the Circumference of a Circle; with Application of the Results to the Theory of Atomic Structure", Philosophical Magazine Series 6, Volume 7, Number 39, pp. 237–265, March 1904
- ^ L. Foppl, "Stabile anordnungen von elektronen im atom", J. Reine Angew. Math, 141 (1912), 251–301.
- ^ V.A. Yudin, "The minimum of potential energy of a system of point charges", Discretnaya Matematika 4(2) (1992), 115–121 (in Russian); Discrete Math. Appl., 3(1) (1993), 75–81
- ^ N.N. Andreev, "An extremal property of the icosahedron", East J. Approximation, 2(4) (1996), 459-462, MR 97m:52022, Zbl 0877.51021
- ^ http://arxiv.org/abs/1001.3702
- ^ Sir J.J. Thomson, The Romanes Lecture, 1914 (The Atomic Theory)
Notes
- Henry Cohn and Abhinav Kumar, "Universally optimal distribution of points on spheres". J. Amer. Math. Soc. 20 (2007), no. 1, 99—148
- P. D. Dragnev, D. A. Legg, and D. W. Townsend, "Discrete logarithmic energy on the sphere". Pacific J. Math. 207 (2002), no. 2, 345—358.
- T. Erber and G. M. Hockney, "Complex Systems: Equilibrium Configurations of
Equal Charges on a Sphere
", Advances in Chemical Physics, Volume 98, pp. 495–594, 1997.
- Cris Cecka, Mark J. Bowick, and Alan A. Middleton: http://thomson.phy.syr.edu/
- David J. Wales and Sidika Ulker: http://www-wales.ch.cam.ac.uk/~wales/CCD/Thomson/table.html and also http://www-wales.ch.cam.ac.uk/~wales/CCD/Thomson2/table.html




































", Advances in Chemical Physics, Volume 98, pp. 495–594, 1997.