Variational Calculations of Dipole Polarizabilities of Helium-Like Ions

Abstract
The dipole polarizabilities of a number of helium-like ions are calculated by a variational procedure, using the analytic ground state wave functions calculated for these ions by Green, Mulder, Lewis, and Woll. Our values agree well with those obtained by Sternheimer by a numerical solution of the first-order Schrödinger equation in the presence of an electric field. The basis for the convergence of our variational procedure is discussed along with its advantages and disadvantages relative to Sternheimer's procedure.