Energy Levels of a Symmetrical Double Minima Problem with Applications to the NH3 and ND3 Molecules

Abstract

The energy levels for a potential energy V = — C sech2 r/2ρ+D sech4 r/2ρ have been obtained by numerical solution of continued fractions. Values of the constants have been found such that the computed energy levels agree satisfactorily with the experimental values for the NH3 and ND3 molecules. The height of the ammonia pyramid is found to be 0.37A, the height of the potential hill is found to be 2076 cm—1, and the dissociation energy is about five volts.