Is the Group R4 an Approximate Symmetry for Many-Electron Theory?

Abstract

The 4‐dimensional rotation group R₄ is used to analyze the structure of the (2s + 2p)^N shell and to determine the relevance, if any, of the R₄ group as an approximate symmetry group for many‐electron theory. It is found that while the R₄ symmetrized states of the (2s + 2p)^N complex approximately diagonalize the Coulomb energy matrix for interactions within the complex, the inclusion of the inner 1s² shell effects leads to a large symmetry violating term, which invalidates the R₄ group as an approximate symmetry for many‐electron theory.