On the validity of the triple-dipole interaction as a representation of non-additive intermolecular forces

A complete partial wave analysis of the non-expanded non-additive coulomb interaction energy for three non-degenerate S-state atoms is given through third-order in the interatomic potential energy function. Pseudo state techniques are used to evaluate various partial wave components of the non-expanded second and third-order non-additive interaction energies for various isosceles triangular configurations of three interacting ground-state hydrogen atoms. These second and third-order non-expanded coulomb results are used, in conjunction with Heitler-London results for the first-order non-additive energies for the quartet spin state of the H(1s)-H(1s)-H(1s) interaction, to discuss the relative importance of various parts of the non-additive energy as a function of the geometrical configuration of the atoms, and the validity of both the non-expanded triple-dipole energy and the expanded Axilrod-Teller-Muto triple-dipole result as a representation of non-additive coulomb energies. For example, in the non-bonded interaction of three S-state atoms it appears that representing the non-additive energy by the non-additive coulomb energy is not reliable until the interatomic separations are somewhat larger than R*, the interatomic distance associated with the van der Waals minimum in the corresponding non-bonded dimer interaction. Further, the use of the triple-dipole interaction energy, with or without charge overlap corrections, to represent the non-additive coulomb energy is of doubtful validity until the interatomic separations are considerably greater than R*.