Variational Study of Atomic Properties of Ions and Atoms from He to Ne

Abstract

An extension of the variational approach for the study of atomic properties of ions and atoms containing up to 10 electrons is presented. The study includes exact analytical calculations of all the interaction terms, including direct Coulomb interactions and exchange interactions. Two alternative formulations are considered, with one and with two variational parameters. The exact and numerical values of these parameters are obtained and tabulated. The results of this study are compared with Hartree–Fock calculations. Sample applications to electron-atom scattering and energy losses of ions in Tokamak plasmas are presented.