scholarly journals Self-consistent field with exchange for potassium and argon

As already mentioned in a previous paper on the calculation of the self- consistent field with exchange for calcium (D. R. and W. Hartree 1938), wave functions more accurate than those calculated without exchange are required both for K + and for Ar, and the calculations for calcium were carried out partly in the hope that it would be possible to interpolate with sufficient accuracy the difference between the wave functions calculated with and without exchange for K + and Ar from the corresponding differences for Cl - and Ca ++ . The results showed that for the (I s ), (2 s ) and (2 p ) wave function this interpolation would probably be satisfactory, but for the (3 s ) and (3 p ) wave functions it was not as straightforward as had been hoped, though even for the latter wave functions, estimates of the differences could be made which, while rather uncertain, would probably give appreciably better wave functions than those calculated without exchange and taken without modification.

1—The method of the self-consistent field for determining the wave functions and energy levels of an atom with many electrons was developed by Hartree, and later derived from a variation principle and modified to take account of exchange and of Pauli’s exclusion principle by Slater* and Fock. No attempt was made to consider relativity effects, and the use of “ spin ” wave functions was purely formal. Since, in the solution of Dirac’s equation for a hydrogen-like atom of nuclear charge Z, the difference of the radial wave functions from the solutions of Schrodinger’s equation depends on the ratio Z/137, it appears that for heavy atoms the relativity correction will be of importance; in fact, it may in some cases be of more importance as a modification of Hartree’s original self-nsistent field equation than “ exchange ” effects. The relativistic self-consistent field equation neglecting “ exchange ” terms can be formed from Dirac’s equation by a method completely analogous to Hartree’s original derivation of the non-relativistic self-consistent field equation from Schrodinger’s equation. Here we are concerned with including both relativity and “ exchange ” effects and we show how Slater’s varia-tional method may be extended for this purpose. A difficulty arises in considering the relativistic theory of any problem concerning more than one electron since the correct wave equation for such a system is not known. Formulae have been given for the inter-action energy of two electrons, taking account of magnetic interactions and retardation, by Gaunt, Breit, and others. Since, however, none of these is to be regarded as exact, in the present paper the crude electrostatic expression for the potential energy will be used. The neglect of the magnetic interactions is not likely to lead to any great error for an atom consisting mainly of closed groups, since the magnetic field of a closed group vanishes. Also, since the self-consistent field type of approximation is concerned with the interaction of average distributions of electrons in one-electron wave functions, it seems probable that retardation does not play an important part. These effects are in any case likely to be of less importance than the improvement in the grouping of the wave functions which arises from using a wave equation which involves the spins implicitly.


Author(s):  
A. S. Douglas ◽  
D. R. Hartree ◽  
W. A. Runciman

Before the war, self-consistent field calculations for the Au+ ion had been carried out by W. Hartree but were left still unpublished at his death (see prefatory note in (5)). These results have been used by Brenner and Brown (1) in a relativistic calculation of the K-absorption edge for gold, and they were also used in obtaining initial estimates for the partial self-consistent field calculations for thallium of which results are given in §§3–5 of the present paper. In the meantime an independent calculation for Au+ has been carried out by Henry (6), and his results agree closely with those of W. Hartree. However, it still seems desirable to publish the latter, since they give directly the radial wave function P(nl; r) at exact values of r, whereas Henry used log r as independent variable, as had been done for similar calculations for Hg(4), and has tabulated r½P(nl; r) which is the natural dependent variable to use with log r as independent variable (2); in some applications it is more convenient to have the radial wave functions themselves.


The most successful general method so far devised for dealing with many- electron atoms is th a t of the self-consistent field (abbreviated in what follows to “ s. c. f.” ). If greater accuracy is required than is obtainable with the method as ordinarily used (either with or without exchange), either the so-called “ configuration interaction ” must be taken into account —usually a very laborious procedure—or else more complicated (varia­tional) methods must be used, which must be designed separately for each particular case, and in which the concept of each electron being assigned to its own “ orbit” is usually abandoned. It would seem desirable, therefore, to have, if possible, some general method which will increase the accuracy of the calculations without taking into account configuration interaction, and which will still allow the conceptual features of the s. c. f. method (i. e. the assignment of “ orbits” ) to be retained. In this paper such a method is developed for the case of two-electron configurations in Russell-Saunders coupling. The method consists in assuming a form for the wave function which is similar to that used in the s. c. f. method, except that the proper spatial symmetry is allowed for (which is not so in the case of the s. c. f. equations without exchange), and further, an adjustable function of Θ, the angle between the radii vectores to the two electrons, is inserted as a multiplying factor. The usual varia­tional method is then applied, and yields differential equations for the two radial functions which are similar to those of the ordinary theory, together with an equation for the angular function.


Wave functions for the normal configurations of neutral nitrogen and N - have been calculated by the method of the self-consistent field with exchange (Fock’s equations). To the accuracy of the approximation represented by these equations, the N - ion would be unstable and liable to auto-ionization, but it is estimated that a better approximation of the treatment of a many-electron atom would give a small positive ionization potential for N - . Revised wave functions for Na + and the normal state of neutral Na have also been calculated. Tables of results are given.


In a recent paper we gave an account of the method and results of the solution of Fock’s equations of the self-consistent field, including exchange effects, for the normal state of neutral beryllium. The present paper is concerned with the extension of the calculations to the first two excited states, (1 s ) 2 (2 s ) (2 p ) 3 P and 1 P, of the same atom. This extension was undertaken for two reasons. Firstly, before going on to attempt the solution of Fock’s equations for a heavier atom, we wished to get some experience of the process of solution of Fock’s equations for a configuration involving wave functions which overlap to a greater extent than the wave functions (1 s ) and (2 s ) of the normal state, and for which exchange effects might be expected to be corre­spondingly greater; and secondly, for an atom with more than one electron outside closed ( nl ) groups, so that a given configuration gives rise to more than one term, the equations of the self-consistent field, when exchange effects are included, are no longer the same for the different terms, and it seemed likely to be of interest to examine the consequent difference between the radial wave functions for the different terms (here 3 P and 1 P), and the effect of this difference on the calculated energy separation between the terms.


1959 ◽  
Vol 37 (9) ◽  
pp. 983-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Hart ◽  
Beatrice H. Worsley

The FERUT program previously described for calculating Hartree–Fock wave functions by the method of the self-consistent field has been adapted to the configuration Pb+++. Although the exchange factors were omitted, the program was extended beyond its original scope in other respects, and an assessment of the difficulties so encountered is made. It might be noted, however, that, except in the case of the 4ƒ wave function, it was possible to begin all the integrations at a common point. Initial estimates were made from the Douglas, Hartree, and Runciman results for thallium. The estimates for the core functions were not assumed to be satisfactory. The errors in the final wave functions are considered to be no more than one or two units in the second decimal digit.


1957 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 663-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Froese ◽  
D. R. Hartree

ABSTRACTSolutions of Fock's equations for the self-consistent field with exchange have been carried out for Ne+4, using the EDSAC at the Mathematical Laboratory, Cambridge. The initial estimates for the calculation were made by a simplified version of a method previously suggested for interpolating atomic wave functions with respect to atomic number. This gave good estimates for Ne+4, and it is probable that estimates for Ne+3, obtained similarly, are already accurate enough for practical use. Such wave functions for Ne+3 are given. The results have application in astrophysical contexts.


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