Problem with the Shell Model for Nuclei

[talanum1]

The p-orbitals must be spherically symmetricly placed, so they must be located on the x, y and z axis in which case only 4 of them can orbit. So how is p_1/2 orbitals to display spin-orbit coupling? Only 4 of them can orbit because if the z axis also orbits (a twofold rotation) then L would not be z-directed aligned or anti-aligned to spin direction in the laboratory frame of reference.

 

[talanum1]

The response that the particles are not physically orbiting seems unphysical.

 

[frigidweirdo]

The p-orbitals must be spherically symmetricly placed, so they must be located on the x, y and z axis in which case only 4 of them can orbit. So how is p_1/2 orbitals to display spin-orbit coupling? Only 4 of them can orbit because if the z axis also orbits (a twofold rotation) then L would not be z-directed aligned or anti-aligned to spin direction in the laboratory frame of reference.

As someone who's interested in this stuff, doesn't have time right now to look it up, and I'm not very smart, how do you know they work on these axis?