The Pekeris Method for Lithium: Possibilities and Obstructions

Abstract

It is widely believed that the properties of atoms and molecules are accurately described by the Schrödinger equation, at least in so far as relativistic effects may be neglected. Extracting these properties from the equation in practice, however, can be a highly challenging task. In 1958, Chaim L. Pekeris developed a method for computing the ground state energy of the Helium atom. This thesis surveys the possibilities and obstructions that occur when one tries to compute the ground state energy of Lithium using Pekeris's method.