Finite Size Atom in the Hartree-Fock Approximation: New Substance Quasiparticle

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that within the Hartree-Fock approximation, the number of localized electronic states per nucleus is finite, leading to a well-defined atomic size that is mostly independent of density and temperature at low temperatures.

Contribution

It establishes the finiteness of atomic states and size in the Hartree-Fock model, providing a basis for convergence of the atomic statistical sum.

Findings

Number of localized states per nucleus is finite.

Atomic size is of order of the Bohr radius at low temperatures.

Atomic orbit sizes are independent of density and temperature in a wide parameter range.

Abstract

It is shown that, in the self-consistent quantum statistical Hartree-Fock approximation, the number of electronic states localized on one nucleus is finite. This result is obtained on the basis of the general electron-nuclear model of matter and provides convergence of the atomic statistical sum and finiteness of the "atom" size. In general approach the characteristic size of the "atom" is a function of density and temperature. However, it is shown, that in a wide range of thermodynamic parameters, for relatively low temperatures, characteristic orbits and electron energy eigenvalues are independent of density and temperature. In this case, the sizes of the orbits are of order of the Bohr radius which is a minimal characteristic size in the system for typical parameters of plasma with atomic states.