Core ionization energies of atoms and ions calculated using the generalized Sturmian method

The generalized Sturmian method for solving the many-electron Schrodinger e quation is reviewed. The method is illustrated with calculations of the cor e ionization energies of a series of atoms and ions. It is shown that when the "basis potential" is chosen to be the actual attractive potential of th e nuclei in the system being studied, convergence is rapid, and a correlate d solution can be obtained without the use of the self-consistent field app roximation. Furthermore, when many-electron basis functions of this type ar e used, the kinetic energy term disappears from the secular equation, the n uclear attraction potential is diagonal, and the Slater exponents of the ba sis functions are automatically optimized. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.