independent-particle model

independent-particle model

[‚in·də¦pen·dənt ′pard·i·kəl ‚mäd·əl]

(atomic physics)

A model of an atomic system in which the electrons are assumed to move independently of each other in the average field generated by the nucleus and the other electrons.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.