| Abstract: | A temperature correction to the Thomas–Fermi (TF ) model of a neutral compressed atom has been given by Marshak and Bethe. The aim of the present work is to point out that, by formulating a variational principle, one may obtain approximate analytical solutions of the temperature-perturbed TF equation. As a test of the proposed theory, the total energy of a Ne atom, confined to a spherical container, has been calculated as a function of the container radius at T = 0°K. Comparison of the data obtained with energy values calculated by Ludeña, using a self-consistent-field Hartree–Fock approach, shows reasonable agreement. It is, therefore, concluded that the variational approach suggested in this paper is a sound one. |
