Two-Electron Atomic Systems—A Simple Method for Calculating the Ground State near the Nucleus: Some Applications

Abstract

A simple method of non-relativistic variational calculations of the electronic structure of a two-electron atom/ion, primarily near the nucleus, is proposed. The method as a whole consists of a standard solution of a generalized matrix eigenvalue equation, all matrix elements of which are reduced to a numerical calculation of one-dimensional integrals. The distinctive features of the method are as follows: The use of the hyperspherical coordinate system. The inclusion of logarithms of the hyperspherical radius R in the basis functions, similar to the Fock expansion. Using a special basis function including the leading angular Fock coefficients to provide the correct behavior of the wave function near the nucleus. The main numerical parameters characterizing the properties of the helium atom and a number of helium-like ions near the nucleus are calculated and presented in tables. Among others, the specific coefficients, a21, of the Fock expansion, which can only be calculated using a wave function with the correct behavior near the nucleus, are presented in table and graphs.