Polarizability and internuclear distance in the hydrogen molecule and molecule-ion

Abstract

The polarizability of the hydrogen molecule-ion has been calculated for a range of internuclear distances, using various types of wave-functions. It is concluded that the values obtained for the polarizability are relatively insensitive to the choice of wave-function. Similar calculations have been made for the hydrogen molecule, using an LCAO wave-function. The value obtained for the polarizability at the equilibrium internuclear distance is in fair agreement with experiment and with the results of earlier calculations. The predicted variation of polarizability with internuclear distance agrees approximately with that deduced previously from the refractivities of hydrogen and deuterium, but is greater than that derived from the observed intnesities of Rayleigh and Raman scattering.