Properties of Confined Hydrogen and Helium Atoms

Abstract

The energy spectrum and polarizabilities of hydrogen atom confined to a sphere of radius R , are analysed in terms of the numerical approach, model wave functions, and simple analytical expressions, which provide a useful description of these properties. The scaling relations are used to develop simple expressions for the energies of the confined helium atom in terms of screening effect. The considerations are extended to the hydrogen atom in an oscillator potential, and to off-centre confinement. The general results provide a clear understanding of the implications of confinement.