However , the idea that electrons might revolve around a compact nucleus with definite angular momentum was convincingly argued at least 19 years earlier by Niels Bohr .
The Japanese physicist Hantaro Nagaoka published an orbit - based hypothesis for electronic behavior as early as 1904 .
However , the idea that electrons might revolve around a compact nucleus with definite angular momentum was convincingly argued at least 19 years earlier by Niels Bohr , and the Japanese physicist Hantaro Nagaoka published an orbit - based hypothesis for electronic behavior as early as 1904 .