Error Bounds for R−8 Dispersion Forces between Atoms

Abstract
Error bounds for the coefficient of the R−8 dipole—quadrupole dispersion term describing the interaction between two He atoms have been calculated by constructing oscillator strength and transition frequency spectra which reproduce known dipole and quadrupole oscillator strength sums. The equations obtained are solved by means of linear programming (LP), and the LP solutions are compared with the exact solutions. The effect of uncertainties in the oscillator strength sums is explicitly accounted for in the LP solution.