Abstract—Real atoms are, of course, three-dimensional. However, the simulation of a three-dimensional wavefunction is feasible today only for single-electron atoms. For two-electron atoms, the same simulation implies a six-dimensional wavefunction, and this is an heroic task feasible only for the fastest supercomputers and with a lot of restrictions (linearly polarized, high-frequency, ultrashort pulses). For three-electron atoms, the same task is utopic at present. Almost two decades ago, Eberly introduced a simple way to reduce the complexity of the calculations: “the so-called one-dimensional model atoms.” He introduced a model for hydrogen with a conveniently approximated potential, and this model atom has been a milestone in the ab initio numerical simulation of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. It was soon extended to the two-electron case and recently has been extended by us to three electrons. Those model atoms constitute a powerful tool to explore multielectron atoms with fully correlated electrons. This paper is not a complete review of the subject; it just aims to show how this model atom has triggered new research in the Salamanca group.
Multielectron Atomic Models Using the Rochester One-Dimensional Potential L. Roso*, L. Plaja**, P. Moreno, E. C. Jarque, J. R. Vázquez de Aldana, J. San Román, and C. Ruiz*** Servicio Láser, Universidad de Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain *e-mail: roso@aida.usal.es; **e-mail: lplaja@usal.es; ***e-mail: camilo@usal.es
