Study of the van der Waals Rare Gas Trimers $$\hbox {Ne}_3$$ Ne 3 , $$\hbox {Ar}_3$$ Ar 3 , $$\hbox {Kr}_3$$ Kr 3 , and $$\hbox {Xe}_3$$ Xe 3 Using Hyperspherical Coordinates

Abstract

We study the bosonic van der Waals rare gas trimers $$\hbox {Ne}_3$$ , $$\hbox {Ar}_3$$ , $$\hbox {Kr}_3$$ , and $$\hbox {Xe}_3$$ in zero total angular momentum, $$J=0$$ , states. The three-body Schrodinger equation in hyperspherical coordinates is solved using the slow variable discretization approach. We calculate the $$J=0$$ trimer bound state energy levels as well as their average root-mean-square radii. The adiabatic hyperspherical potential curves converging near the three-body dissociation threshold are also studied.