Theory of spin-orbit coupling in atoms, II. Comparison of theory with experiment

Abstract

Results of calculations of the spin-orbit coupling constant for 2 p , 3 p , 4 p , and 3 d shell ions and atoms are presented. The calculations are based on a theory developed in a previous paper. Excellent agreement of this theory with experiment is obtained for the 2 p and 3 d shell ions, while calculations using the familiar < ∂ V / r ∂ r > expression for the coupling constant lie 10 to 20 % too high. The exchange terms discussed in the earlier paper make a contribution to the coupling constant of the same sign and order of magnitude as the ordinary shielding terms. For the 3 p and 4 p shell atoms, the calculated coupling constants based on the exact theory and on the < ∂ V / r ∂ r > expression both tend to lie below the experimental values. An explanation for this disagreement is suggested, based on the noded nature of the outer-electron radial wave functions for these atoms. The importance of the residual-spin-other-orbit interaction is discussed, and it is shown that ignoring the form of this interaction may lead to a large variation in the coupling constant within a configuration.