The interpolation of atomic wave functions

Abstract

ABSTRACTIf r̄nl is the mean radius for the radial wave function of a complete (nl) group in an atom of atomic number N, the variation of 1/r̄nl with N is nearly linear. Further the variation of a given (nl) radial wave function with N is such that for a given value of (r/r̄nl), the variation of the quantity (r̄nl)½P(nl; r) with r̄nl is nearly linear. These relations between the radial wave functions for different atoms are examined from the point of view of using them as a means of interpolating, with respect to atomic number, between results for atoms for which solutions of Fock's equations have been carried out.