The repulsive Σg+1 He2 potential obtained from total cross sections

Abstract
An improved apparatus for obtaining short‐range intermolecular potentials is described. The measured ground state He–He potential in the range 0.49 ≤ r ≤ 1.56 Å is V(r) = (215.3±9.4) × exp[−3.950±0.044)r] eV. This agrees extremely well with the results of molecular orbital theory, whereas earlier experiments were 25% lower, and is confirmed by a recent independent measurement in the range 0.9–1.5 Å. A comparison is also made with statistical model calculations.