Abstract
The accuracy of the Pluvinage wave function for the ground state of helium is investigated by considering a number of different physical processes including double ionization by photoabsorption, Compton scattering, and electron impact. In the high-energy limit of these processes, the accuracy of the initial ground state can be ascertained without reference to the final double-continuum state. In this limit, we find that a Hylleraas description is superior to the Pluvinage one. For intermediate energies, final-state correlation becomes important, so we employ a 3C description of the final state (the 3C wave function is the double-continuum analog of the Pluvinage wave function). In this case, however, better agreement with experiment is obtained with the Pluvinage initial state. A possible explanation for this seemingly paradoxical result is suggested.
Recommended Citation
S. Jones et al., "Test of the Pluvinage Wave Function for the Helium Ground State," Physical Review A, American Physical Society (APS), Aug 2004.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.70.012712
Department(s)
Physics
Sponsor(s)
National Science Foundation (U.S.)
Keywords and Phrases
Pluvinage Wave Function; Helium; Photoabsorption
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1050-2947; 2469-9926
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2004 American Physical Society (APS), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Aug 2004
Comments
This article is corrected by Erratum: Test of the Pluvinage Wave Function for the Helium Ground State.