Quantum critical phenomena and stability of atomic and molecular ions

Abstract

In this review we discuss quantum phase transitions and the mapping between symmetry breaking of electronic structure configurations at the large-dimension limit and mean-field theory of phase transitions. We show that the finite size scaling method can be used for the calculations of the critical parameters of the few-body Schrodinger equation. In this approach, the finite size corresponds to the number of elements in a complete basis set used to expand the exact eigenfunction of a given Hamiltonian. The critical parameters such as the critical nuclear charges will be used to explain and predict the stability of atomic and molecular negative ions. For N-electron atoms with 2 N 86, results show that, at most, only one electron can be added to a free atom in the gas phase. However, doubly charged atomic negative ions might exist in a strong magnetic field.