The Wave Mechanics of an Atom tvith a Non-Coulomb Central Field. Part I. Theory and Methods

 By D. R. HARTREE

[Received 19 November, read 21 November, 1927.]

 

§ 1. Introduction. 

On the theory of atomic structure proposed by Bohr, in whichthe electrons are considered as point charges revolving in orbitsabout the nucleus, the Orbits being specified by quantum con-ditions, it is well known that both a qualitative and an approximatequantitative explanation of many features of the simpler opticalspectra and of X-ray spectra of atoms with many electrons (e.g.Rydberg sequences in optical spectra, term magnitudes in bothX-ray and optical spectra) can be given, if the assumption is madethat the effects of the electrons on one another can be representedby supposing each to move in a central non-Coulomb field of force*;further, the additional concept of a spinning electron provides asimilar explanation of other features of these specbraf (e.g.doublet struoture of terms and magnitude of doublet separation,anomalous Zeeman effect). This assumption of a central field wasadmittedly a rough approximation made in the absence of anydetailed ideas about the interaction between the different electronsin an atom, but in view of its success as a first approximation for theorbital atom model, the question arises whether, the same simpleapproximations may not give useful results when applied to thenew formulation of the quantum theory which has been developedin the last two years

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