New procedure for generating valence and Rydberg orbitals. II. Atomic photoionization cross sections

Abstract

A previously described procedure for generating approximate valence and Rydberg orbitals from spectral data is extended to continuum states. Formulas for photoionization cross sections are derived, and cross sections are reported for the lithium sequence ions (Li I to Si XII), sodium, and helium. The predicted values are shown to be in good agreement with experimental and polarized-Hartree–Fock values, and results are generally superior to cross sections obtained from the same spectral data by the quantum defect method.