The hydrogen atom according to relativistic wave mechanics -- amplitude functions and circulating electronic currents

Abstract

The solution of Dirac's equation for the hydrogen atom according to relativistic wave mechanics yields for each state a vectorial amplitude function with four components, two large and two small. Each such component has its characteristic surface of constant amplitude, of which we plot several examples. For each state of the hydrogen atom there is both a density of electronic charge surrounding the atomic nucleus and an electronic current circulating about the polar axis; the latter generates a magnetic dipolar moment that agrees precisely with experiment.