Potential Energy Curves for the X 1Σg+ and B 1Σu+ States of Hydrogen

Abstract

The recently reported accurate data of Herzberg and Howe have been used to calculate the potential energy curves for the X ¹Σ_g⁺ and B ¹Σ_u⁺ states of hydrogen by the Rydberg‐Klein‐Rees (RKR) method. The results are compared with the results of the quantum calculations of Kolos and Roothaan and Dalgarno and Lynn. The agreement is good; in fact, the interaction energy obtained by Dalgarno and Lynn for the ground state agrees with the RKR values to within 2% in the region where the two curves overlap. The rotational predissociation observed in the ν″=14 level of the X ¹Σ_g⁺ state is discussed. It appears as if there may exist here an unusual case of a sharp spectral line associated with a state which is very close in energy to the maximum of a potential barrier.