Why Use Product Type Wave Functions for Helium Atom?

[Flava1000]

1. Considering the helium atom,
a. why do we use product type wave function
b. how is the anti-symmetry taking care
c what are the criterion for selecting best wave function
d. how do we take into account the electron correlation



Attempts:
a. I think it is because we want exact wave function, since the helium atom has two electron, the electron-electron repulsion must be ignored.

b. Anti symmetry is taking care by interchanging the coordinates of the electrons

 

[PhysicsGente]

a) The electron-electron repulsion should not be ignored! In fact, I think the energy of the ground state would be around -100 eV if you ignore it while the experimental ground state energy is -77.5 eV.

b) It has to do with the electrons. Think about spins.