Wave functions for the hydrogen atom in a dense plasma

Abstract

A hydrogen atom in a high-density plasma is simulated by a model in which the hydrogen atom is confined in an impenetrable spherical box, with the atom at the centre. For the proton–electron interaction the Debye–Huckel potential is used. Variational wave functions are proposed for the 1s and 2p states. Energies calculated from these for different values of the radius of box (r0) are shown to be in good agreement with the exact values. The variational wave functions are further employed to calculate the absorption oscillator strength for the 1s [Formula: see text] 2p transition and the dipole polarizability for different values of r0. PACS Nos.: 03.65.Ge, 32.70.Os, 31.70.Dk, 52.20.–j