Variational wave functions in calculations of the forces of oscillators in atoms and ions

The present article discusses the quality of wave functions obtained within the framework of different variational methods. The advantages of the minimax method, which incorporates the ordinary variational method, are discussed. Using as an example the calculation of the force of oscillators, it is shown that a consistent set of complete wave functions determined within the framework of the minimax method yields better agreement with the force of oscillators calculated by means of the length and velocity methods than does the ordinary variational method.