Hartree Product

A Hartree product is a way to approximate the overall wavefunction of a multi-electron system by multiplying individual electron wavefunctions together. In essence, it assumes each electron behaves independently within an atom or molecule, ignoring their interactions. This simplification makes complex calculations more manageable, providing a starting point for understanding electronic structures. However, because it neglects electron-electron correlations, more advanced methods are necessary for precise results. The Hartree product is fundamental in computational chemistry, forming the basis for more sophisticated models like the Hartree-Fock method.