Application of Thomas-Fermi model to a negative hydrogen ion in a strong electric field

Abstract

Thomas-Fermi model is applied to describe some basic properties of a negative hydrogen ion in a strong electric field. The equilibrium ionic size, energy and polarizability of the ion are calculated. Collective modes of the dipole oscillations are regarded. A barrier, due to which the ion is in a stable state, is studied. The barrier vanishes at some large value of the electric field, which is defined as a critical value. The dependence of the critical field on frequency is studied. At high frequencies a stripping mechanism for instability arises. At the resonant frequency comparatively low amplitude of the electric field causes the stripping instability.