A molecule with half-Möbius topology

(science.org)

80 points | by bryanrasmussen 4 days ago

4 comments

  • vi_sextus_vi 4 minutes ago
    https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.03516

    TIL from article: Dyson orbitals can be measured with scanning tunneling microscope

  • addaon 39 minutes ago
    From Wikipedia:

    > The Half-Möbius electronic topology is a form of quantum topology in molecular science in which the π-orbital basis of a cyclic molecule undergoes a 90-degree phase twist per revolution around the ring, requiring four complete circuits to return to its starting phase. This is distinct from both the topologically trivial (Hückel) case, in which no net twist occurs, and the classical Möbius case, in which the orbital undergoes a 180-degree half-twist per loop.

    I choose to believe that Hückel was not the one who characterized or discovered the trivial case, but instead a disliked graduate student who was once insulted at a party as "emotionally, intellectually, and topologically trivial", and it just cascaded from there into naming things after him.

    Don't try to convince me otherwise.

  • rbanffy 1 hour ago
    One of the smallest sculptures in the universe.
  • stringfood 32 minutes ago
    klein bottle molecule?