Self-consistent field, with exchange, for beryllium - II—The (2 s ) (2 p ) 3 P and 1 P excited states

Abstract

In a recent paper we gave an account of the method and results of the solution of Fock’s equations of the self-consistent field, including exchange effects, for the normal state of neutral beryllium. The present paper is concerned with the extension of the calculations to the first two excited states, (1 s ) 2 (2 s ) (2 p ) 3 P and 1 P, of the same atom. This extension was undertaken for two reasons. Firstly, before going on to attempt the solution of Fock’s equations for a heavier atom, we wished to get some experience of the process of solution of Fock’s equations for a configuration involving wave functions which overlap to a greater extent than the wave functions (1 s ) and (2 s ) of the normal state, and for which exchange effects might be expected to be corre­spondingly greater; and secondly, for an atom with more than one electron outside closed ( nl ) groups, so that a given configuration gives rise to more than one term, the equations of the self-consistent field, when exchange effects are included, are no longer the same for the different terms, and it seemed likely to be of interest to examine the consequent difference between the radial wave functions for the different terms (here 3 P and 1 P), and the effect of this difference on the calculated energy separation between the terms.