Bound on the ionization energy of large atoms (Q750758)

A bound on the ionization energy for large atoms is given. It implies the bound on the excess charge proved by \textit{C. L. Fefferman} and the first author [Commun. Math. Phys. 128, No.1, 109-130 (1990; Zbl 0695.60098)]. The transparent proof makes use of a comparison of quantities involving the exact charge distribution with the corresponding ones of the Thomas- Fermi distribution.