Abstract
In this review we discuss quantum phase transitions and the mapping between symmetry breaking of electronic structure configurations at the large-dimension limit and mean-field theory of phase transitions. We show that the finite size scaling method can be used for the calculations of the critical parameters of the few-body Schrodinger equation. In this approach, the finite size corresponds to the number of elements in a complete basis set used to expand the exact eigenfunction of a given Hamiltonian. The critical parameters such as the critical nuclear charges will be used to explain and predict the stability of atomic and molecular negative ions. For N-electron atoms with 2 N 86, results show that, at most, only one electron can be added to a free atom in the gas phase. However, doubly charged atomic negative ions might exist in a strong magnetic field.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: