Shannon entropy in confined He-like ions within a density functional formalism

TL;DR

This paper investigates Shannon entropy in position and momentum spaces for confined helium-like ions using density functional theory, revealing how confinement and electron correlation influence entropy measures and their uncertainty relations.

Contribution

It introduces a systematic analysis of Shannon entropy in confined ions within a density functional framework, including correlation effects and state-specific behavior, using a generalized pseudospectral method.

Findings

Entropy patterns show crossovers at different confinement radii.

Electron correlation effects are more significant in weaker confinement.

Entropic uncertainty relations are upheld in all cases.

Abstract

Shannon entropy in position ($S_{\rvec}$) and momentum ($S_{\pvec}$) spaces, along with their sum ($S_t$) are presented for unit-normalized densities of He, Li$^+$ and Be$^{2+}$ ions, spatially confined at the center of an impenetrable spherical enclosure defined by a radius $r_c$. Both ground as well as some selected low-lying singly excited states, \emph{viz.,} 1sns (n $=$ 2-4) $^3$S, 1snp (n $=$ 2-3) $^3$P, 1s3d $^3$D are considered within a density functional methodology that makes use of a work-function-based exchange potential along with two correlation potentials (local Wigner-type parametrized functional as well as the more involved non-linear gradient- and Laplacian-dependent Lee-Yang-Parr functional). The radial Kohn-Sham (KS) equation is solved using an optimal spatial discretization scheme via the generalized pseudospectral (GPS) method. A detailed systematic analysis of the confined system (relative to corresponding free system) has been performed for these quantities with respect to $r_c$ in tabular and graphical forms, \emph{with and without} electron correlation. Due to compression, the pattern of entropy in aforementioned states gets characterized by various crossovers at intermediate and lower $r_c$ regions. The impact of electron correlation is more pronounced in weaker confinement limit, and appears to decay with rise in confinement strength. The exchange-only results are quite good to provide a decent qualitative discussion. The lower-bounds provided by entropic uncertainty relation holds good in all cases. Several other new interesting features are observed.