Improved potential energy curve and vibrational energies for the electronic ground state of the hydrogen molecule

The potential energy curve for the electronic ground state of the hydrogen molecule has been recomputed for intermediate and large internuclear separations. for 2.4 ≤ R ≤ 8.0a.u. the previous potential energy curve has been improved. The largest improvement amounts to 5.5 cm^?1, and was obtained in the vicinity of R = 4.4a.u.. Using the new potential energy curve, and the adiabatic and relativistic corrections, the vibrational and rotational energy levels have been calculated for H₂, HD, and D₂. The deviations of the calculated energy levels G(v) of H₂ and D₂ from the observed values follow very closely the nonadiabatic corrections resulting from the Van Vleck formula.