Variational wave functions for a screened Coulomb potential

Using solutions to a Hulth\`en-like effective potential as variational trail functions we have calculated the energy levels of the nonzero angular momentum states of the static screened Coulomb potential. Our one-parameter results for the 2p, 3p, 3d, 4p, 4d, and 4f levels are in excellent agreement with earlier, more elaborate calculations. We have also calculated spontaneous emission transition probabilities between several pairs of states and find that our results compare favorably with previous calculations. We conclude that Hulth\`en-like trial functions provide better variational energies and wave functions with fewer parameters than hydrogenic or Slater-type functions for screened Coulomb and similar potentials.