Third-order many-body perturbation theory calculations for the beryllium and magnesium isoelectronic sequences

Abstract

Third-order relativistic many-body perturbation theory (MBPT) is applied to obtain energies of ions with two valence electrons in the no virtual-pair approximation (NVPA). A total of 302 third-order Goldstone diagrams are organized into 12 one-body and 23 two-body terms. Only third-order two-body terms and diagrams are presented in this paper, owing to the fact that the one-body terms are identical to the previously studied third-order terms in monovalent ions. Dominant classes of diagrams are identified. The model potential is the Dirac-Hartree-Fock potential ${V}^{N\ensuremath{-}2}$, and $B$-spline basis functions in a cavity of finite radius are employed in the numerical calculations. The Breit interaction is taken into account through the second order of perturbation theory, and the lowest-order Lamb shift is also evaluated. Sample calculations are performed for berylliumlike ions with $Z=4--7$, and for the magnesiumlike ion $\mathrm{P}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}IV$. The third-order excitation energies are in excellent agreement with measurement with an accuracy at 0.2% level for the cases considered. Comparisons are made with second-order MBPT results, and with other calculations. The third-order energy correction is shown to be significant, improving the previous second-order calculations by an order of magnitude.