Abstract
Ground-state energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are obtained by a variational method for an electron in the field of a finite, stationary, permanent electric dipole. The dipole moments studied cover the range from the minimum value required for binding () to , where the system is equivalent to the hydrogen atom perturbed slightly by a distant stationary negative charge. The eigenvalues obtained agree with those reported by Wallis, Herman, and Milnes, who determined them by another method in the range . The normalized eigenfunctions display the manner in which the electronic charge density changes from that of the hydrogen atom at very large to a flat distribution approaching that which is characteristic of a zero-energy continuum state as the minimum moment is approached from above. Optimized variational wave functions for different values of are presented for use in other calculations. Contour maps and profiles of electronic charge density are shown for a number of values of . Mean values of the powers -1, 1, and 2 of the distances of the electron from the dipole charges are also calculated.
- Received 12 April 1968
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.174.81
©1968 American Physical Society