RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Interpretation of the correlation energy of atoms, and its dependence with atomic number Z up to Z = 18 A1 Alonso Martín, Julio Alfonso A1 Cordero Tejedor, Nicolás A. K1 Atoms K1 Correlation K1 Pairing K1 Química K1 Chemistry AB Accurate correlation energies Ecorr of neutral atoms with atomic number Z =1–18, calculated from a combination of experimental and theoretical information, are available in the literature. Those empirical correlation energies show a grossly linear behaviour with Z. However, in more detail Ecorr deviates from global linearity and reveals a piece-wise linear behaviour with different slopes as the different electronic shells are progressively filled. This behaviour can be explained by writing Ecorr as a sum of pairing-correlation contributions. The pairing- correlation energies have been obtained from the empirical total correlation energies of atoms. Those pairing- correlations are very weak for electrons in different main shells (K, L, M shells) and larger for electrons in the same main shell. In addition, the pairing-correlation energies depend on the angular momenta of the two electronic orbitals. Those features are due to the role of the quantum overlap between the wave functions of the electrons involved in the pairing. Pairs of electrons showing a very small orbital overlap lead to negligible pairing-correlation energies. Keeping a reasonable number of terms, the shell- and angular momentum- dependent pairing-correlation energies explain well the intricate piece-wise linear behaviour of Ecorr(Z) up to Z =18. Also, certain approximations applied to the pairing-correlation energies permit to justify the grossly linear trend of Ecorr with Z, and the more precise faster-than-linear behaviour of Ecorr(Z). PB Elsevier SN 2210-271X YR 2025 FD 2025-08 LK https://hdl.handle.net/10259/10520 UL https://hdl.handle.net/10259/10520 LA eng NO This work was supported by grant PID2022-138340OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and FSE+, grant PID2023- 148373NB-I00 funded by MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER UE, by the European Union Next Generation EU (PRTR C17.I1), and by Junta de Castilla y Le´ on (Apoyo a GIR, Project VA029G24). DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos RD 12-may-2026