Abstract
The scalar and tensor dynamic polarizabilities of the first excited states of the alkali-metal atoms , , and are calculated using relativistic many-body perturbation theory. Comparison with experimental measurements of the static polarizabilities suggests that the errors in the theoretical predictions do not exceed 1%. The dynamic polarizabilities at imaginary frequencies are employed to calculate the long-range van der Waals coefficients for the interaction of ground-state helium atoms with the excited alkali-metal atoms to a probable error of less than 2%.
- Received 13 May 2004
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.70.032722
©2004 American Physical Society