A simple derivation is given for the first quantum correction to the Thomas-Fermi kinetic energy. Its application to the total binding energy of neutral atoms exploits the technique for handling strongly bound electrons that was developed in a preceding paper, and justifies the numerical value of the second correction adopted there. A proposal is made for extrapolating this improved description to the outer regions of the atom.

• Received 8 December 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.24.2353