On the topology of the adiabatic potential energy surfaces of the H2-ion in a strong magnetic field

The electronic structure of diatomic molecules in strong magnetic fields is investigated by means of the example of the hydrogen molecular ion. A variety of different possibilities for the topological behaviour of the two-dimensional adiabatic electronic potential energy surfaces are derived and discussed. Global as well as local equilibrium configurations of the ion are shown to occur not only for the positions with higher symmetry, i.e. for the parallel and perpendicular positions, but also for configurations which correspond to an inclination of the internuclear axis with respect to the external field.