Caption

Electron flow. Computer model of electron flow in a 2-dimensional electrical landscape. The pattern observed depends upon both the initial conditions and the electric potential. The electrons enter at top left and spread out over the landscape. The tracks vary from dark (few electrons) to bright (many electrons). The electric potential can be considered the landscape's shape: this is a bumpy landscape. Unseen hills and valleys represent the varying electric attraction. This bumpiness is only slight, but it causes this branching effect. This could interfere with the operation of atomic- scale electronics. This model of electron flow was created as an artwork by Professor Eric Heller.