Theory Notes

Helium Calculations

\( [-\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}(\nabla^2_1 +\nabla^2_2) - \frac{Ze^2}{r_1} - \frac{Ze^2}{r_2}+\frac{e^2}{r^2_{12}} ]\psi = E\psi\nonumber \)

Define \(\rho = \frac{Zr}{a_0}\) where \(a_0 = \frac{\hbar^2}{me^2}\) (Bohr radius). Then

\([-\frac{\hbar^2}{2m}Z^2(\frac{me^2}{\hbar^2})^2(\nabla^2_{\rho_1}+\nabla^2_{\rho_2}) - Z^2\frac{e^2}{a_0}\rho^{-1}_1 - Z^2\frac{e^2}{a_0}\rho^{-1}_2 + \frac{e^2}{a_0}Z\rho^{-1}_{12}]\psi= E\psi\nonumber\)

But \(\frac{\hbar^2}{m}(\frac{me^2}{\hbar^2})^2 = \frac{e^2}{a_0}\) is in atomic units (au) of energy. Therefore

\([-\frac{1}{2}(\nabla^2_{\rho_1}+\nabla^2_{\rho_2}) - \frac{1}{\rho_1} - \frac{1}{\rho_2} + \frac{Z^{-1}}{\rho_{12}}]\psi = \varepsilon\psi\nonumber\) where \(\varepsilon = \frac{Ea_0}{Z^2e^2}\)

The problem to be solved is thus \([\frac{1}{2}(\nabla^2_1+\nabla^2_2) - \frac{1}{r_1}-\frac{1}{r_2} + \frac{Z^{-1}}{r_{12}}]\psi = \varepsilon\psi\nonumber\)

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The Hartree Fock Method

Assume that \(\psi({\bf r}_1,{\bf r}_2)\) can be written in the form

<math style="horizontal-align:middle;">\psi({\bf r}_1,{\bf r}_2) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}[u_1(r_1)u_2(r_2) \pm u_2(r_1)u_1(r_2)]\nonumber</math>

for the \(1S^21S\) ground state

\([-\frac{1}{2}(\nabla^2_1+\nabla^2_2) - \frac{1}{r_1}- \frac{1}{r_2} + \frac{Z^{-1}}{r_{12}}]\psi(r_1,r_2) = E\psi(r_1,r_2)\nonumber\)

Substitute into \(<\psi|H-E|\psi>\) and require this expression to be stationary with respect to arbitrary infinitesimal variations \(\delta u_1\) and \(\delta u_2\) in \(u_1\) and \(u_2\). ie

\(\frac{1}{2}<\delta u_1(r_1)u_2(r_2) \pm u_2(r_1)\delta u_1(r_2)|H-E|u_1(r_1)u_2(r_2)\pm u_2(r_1)u_1(r_2)>\nonumber\)

\(=\int\delta u_1(r_1)d{\bf r}_1\{\int d{\bf r}_2u_2(r_2)(H-E)[u_1(r_1)u_2(r_2)\pm u_2(r_1)u_1(r_2)]\}\nonumber\)

\(= 0 \ \ \ for \ arbitrary \ \delta u_1(r_1).\nonumber\)

Therefore \(\{\int d{\bf r}_2 \ldots \} = 0\).

Similarly, the coefficient of \(\delta u_2\) would give

\(\int d{\bf r}_1 u_1(r_1)(H-E)[u_1(r_1)u_2(r_2) \pm u_2(r_1)u_1(r_2)] = 0\nonumber\)

Define

\(I_{12} = \int dru_1(r)u_2(r), \nonumber\)

\(I_{21} = \int dru_1(r)u_2(r), \nonumber\)

\(H_{ij} = \int d{\bf r}u_i(-\frac{1}{2}\nabla - \frac{1}{r})u_j(r), \nonumber\)

\(G_{ij}(r) = \int d{\bf r}^\prime u_i(r^\prime)\frac{1}{|{\bf r} - {\bf r}\prime|}u_j(r^\prime)\nonumber\)

Then the above equations become the pair of integro-differential equations

\([ H_0 - E + H_{22}+G_{22}(r)]u_1(r) = \mp [ I_{12}(H_0-E) + H_{12}+G_{12}(r)]u_2(r)\nonumber\)

\([H_0-E+H_{11}+G_{11}(r)]u_2(r) &=& \mp [I_{12}(H_0-E) + H_{12}+G_{12}(r)]u_1(r)\nonumber\)

These must be solved self-consistently for the "constants" \(I_{12}\) and \(H_{ij}\) and the function \(G_{ij}(r)\).

The H.F. energy is \(E \simeq -2.87\cdots a.u.\) while the exact energy is \(E = -2.903724\cdots a.u.\)

The difference is called the "correlation energy" because it arises from the way in which the motion of one electron is correlated to the other. The H.F. equations only describe how one electron moves in the average field provided by the other.

Configuration Interaction

For all further sections refer to Dr. Drake's notes

Graphical Representation

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Optimization of Non-linear Parameters

• Difficulties
• Cure

Small Corrections

• Mass Polarization