Potential energy of the K**-He quasimolecule

The potential curves of the nl(²Λ) electronically excited states of the K**-He quasimolecule (n, l, and Λ are the principal quantum number, angular momentum, and its projection on the molecular axis) are calculated. To describe the interaction of the weakly bound electron with the singly charged potassium ion and the ground-state helium atom (with taking into account their long-range electrostatic interactions), the formalism of two-center scattering theory and the finite-range pseudopotential method are used. A comparison with the results of calculations performed by the MRD CI method is carried out. The findings showed that, for small principal quantum numbers n, these methods complement each other, because the first is more reliable for large interatomic distances, R ≥ n, whereas second for small, R < n. The characteristic features of the behavior of the potential curves of the K**-He quasimolecule at large n and l are discussed.