The atom is indeed a curious thing. It seems we may live in a virtual universe. With the electron in constant motion, we cannot determine its position at any one time. More curiously, the atom seems to be a virtual entity itself mostly without matter. It may be a virtual field held together by the continuous motion of electrons and the effect of fields. One would think that this motion would decay, but we know that the energy of this motion is constantly being renewed. How is this so? The answer may lie in quantum tunneling.

Quantum tunneling can be explained in terms of wave mechanics. When an electron approaches a barrier that is sufficiently narrow it can leap through the barrier even though in Classical Physics, there is insufficient energy for it to do so. The electron occupies a certain amount of space due to the wave function, and the wave function is thought to already be inside the barrier. It is as though one end of the tunnel is exchanged for the other end and the electron makes a quantum leap to the other side.

The accepted view of the atomic structure is that of a nucleus being orbited by electrons in planetary fashion, but this may not be true. A more precise view of electron orbits may not be planetary in nature, but in the shape of a toroid or donut and involve the electron tunneling through the area of the nucleus.

In fusion experiments, the energy plasma is sometimes confined by magnetic fields and moving about in the shape of a toroid. Why wouldn’t nature use this same design?

In the atom, the energy of the atom is renewed from being subjected to the Zero Point Electromagnetic Field. It is held together by quantum confinement of the field and the resonance conditions created by orbiting electrons.

The confining field of an atom is created by orbiting electrons. That is, the wave function of the electrons is reflected by the field due to resonance and quantum confinement. Energy is transferred to the wave with each passing of the reflected wave past the area of the nucleus. We know with little doubt the dual nature of the electron – a particle yet a wave. Duality leads us to no other conclusion but to quantum confinement of the wave since reflection implies confinement.

Perhaps, nature makes use of quantum tunneling to support the virtual shape of the atom. If so, the electron orbits due to magnetic acceleration by way of atomic polarization, are due to field emission from the atom with its image being drawn back into the atom. The electron does not "pass through" the area of the nucleus, but makes a quantum leap beyond this area breaking the speed limit if you will. It would indeed imply that quantum tunneling was taking place in the atom if the orbital shape was truly a toroid.

Of course, these ideas are only theory. We cannot actually observe the workings of the atom, but observation of world that we can see may add credence to the theory. The Earth for example is similar in design to this theoretical atom. It consists of a nucleus or polarized core and a magnetic field in the shape of a toroid slightly misshapen by gravitational effects of the sun. The Earth may be an example of a Zero Point Energy System. We can learn from this example.

The basic design of the Earth and atoms seems to be repeated throughout nature, and if we can only learn from nature’s grand design we may be on our way to taking a quantum leap ourselves in our physical science. Only then we would not take for granted an idea that has been put in place a hundred years ago. Perhaps, the shape of electron orbits is not planetary, but a toroid.