Two ways to determine axial symmetry

[Sandrien Scholiers]

1) from the equation

The tensor V only has 3 non-zero components (diagonally), this implies that a principal axis system was used. Because the Vxx and Vyy term are both -1, they both ‘play the same role’ in the toy model, which causes an axial symmetry around the z-axis.

2) from the drawing

It is visually clear to me that if you rotate the two electrons around the z-axis, nothing will physically change in the system. Therefore, there is axial symmetry around the z-axis.

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