LXXVIII.The energy levels of the hydrogen molecular ion

Abstract

The differences between the most recent calculations of the energy levels of the hydrogen molecular ion are discussed, with special reference to the degeneracy of symmetric and antisymmetric states. A perturbation theory is given and results calculated which are in close agreement with those obtained by the variation method. A method is also stated whereby the higher energy levels can be easily obtained, and curves are drawn for the energy levels up to the second excited states of the hydrogen molecular ion. The lower energy levels compare favourably with those obtained by the more exact variation method. No published results of experiment appear to give sufficiently large moments of inertia to be in agreement with the theoretical values for the excited H2/+ molecule.