Investigation of the relativistic equivalent Hamiltonian in the LS coupling scheme

Armstrong's method of relativistic description of atoms in LS coupling using the equivalent operator is developed. Its form in terms of standard unit operators acting within a space of one shell is obtained. The interpretation of separate terms of equivalent Breit operator is investigated in a general case of nonequivalent electrons. The relativistic Dirac-Fock equations for the level and term in LS coupling are derived. The equivalent operator is applied to obtain the averages of relativistic operators too. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.