Theory of atomic structure and processes

从量子力学的早期开始，氦原子就对理论家提出了一个特殊的挑战，因为它是最简单的原子系统，薛定谔方程无法精确求解。 我们的目标是为两个和三个电子原子（氦和锂）构建解决方案，这些解决方案对于所有实际目的来说都是基本精确的，并将其用作探索相对论和量子电动力学效应的平台，其精度水平是以前无法达到的。 除了扩展和测试基本理论本身之外，其动机是构建新的工具，通过与高精度激光共振测量的比较来获得否则不可能获得的数据。 两个例子是一个重要的新值的精细结构常数，这是一个基本常数的性质，并在桌面上测量奇异的核半径。 最近在阿贡（美国）实验的成功，GSI（德国）和TRIUMF（加拿大）的重点是所谓的富中子“晕”核。 我们的理论和实验相结合，创造了一个独特的工具来测量中子晕内的核心。 结果的意义在于，它们使人们能够区分为将所有原子核结合在一起的有效力而提出的各种模型。 总之，我们的理论结果的原子结构的两个和三个电子原子在这一领域的文献中占主导地位，他们提供了动力，为世界各地的几个实验组，以推进国家的最先进的高精度激光计量。

Since the early days of quantum mechanics, he helium atom has posed a special challenge to theorists because it is the simplest atomic system for which the Schroedinger equation cannot be solved exactly.  Our aim is to construct solutions for two- and three-electron atoms (helium and lithium) that are essentially exact for all practical purposes, and to use this as a platform for the exploration of relativistic and quantum electrodynamic  effects at levels of accuracy that were not previously accessible.  In addition to extending and testing basic theory per se, the motivation is to construct new tools to obtain data that would not otherwise be possible, through comparisons with high precision laser resonance measurements.  Two examples are a significant new value for the fine structure constant, which is one of the fundamental constants of nature, and table-top measurements of exotic nuclear radii.  Recent successes of experiments at Argonne (U.S.), GSI (Germany) and TRIUMF (Canada) have focused on the so-called neutron-rich "halo" nuclei.  Our combination of theory and experiment creates a unique tool to measure the core inside the neutron halo.  The significance of the results is that they enable one to distinguish amongst the various models proposed for the effective forces holding all nuclei together.   In summary, our theoretical results for the atomic structure of two- and three-electron atoms dominate the literature in this area, and they are providing the motivation for several experimental groups around the world to advance the state-of-the-art for high precision laser metrology.