Exact solution of the non-Hermitian eigenvalue problem for electron orbital excitations in a hydrogen atom

Abstract

A new way of solving the spectral problem to describe electronic excitations is demonstrated for a hydrogen atom. The applied methodology is based formally on the idea of electronic excitation description without introducing boundary conditions to the eigenvalue problem for the square of the angular momentum operator. The eigenvalues of such an operator are considered as complex in general. As a result, the spectral problem for the Schrödinger equation becomes non-Hermitian with complex energy values. The imaginary part of the total energy helps to estimate the excitation lifetime within a unified scheme. The existence of the Stark shift of atomic energy levels and the collapse of the atomic spectra are confirmed.