Atomic Binding Energies

Abstract

IN an earlier paper¹, we published the results of some calculations of analytical atomic wave functions for the ground-states of atoms lithium to neon. Since that tune, we have had several requests for the values of the associated total electronic energies. These energies are therefore presented in the accompanying table, where they may be compared with those deduced from experiment. For the lighter atoms these experimental values have been obtained by summing the first, second, . . . ionization potentials of the atoms. For nitrogen, oxygen and fluorine, however, it has been necessary to estimate the last ionization potential by means of a small extrapolation. But the ‘experimental’ values quoted should all be accurate to about 1 part in 10,000. In no case do the theoretical values differ from the experimental ones by more than 1 per cent. This would still be true if an allowance were made for the motion of the nucleus.