Corresponding states principle and van der Waals potentials of Zn2, Cd2, and Hg2

Based on the assumptions that the corresponding states principle is valid for the group 12 dimers and that the interaction potentials of these dimers can be described by the Tang-Toennies potential model, a set of correlation relations between the spectroscopic constants of these dimers are derived. Some recently measured spectroscopic constants satisfy these relations quite well, but older experimental data do not. These recent spectroscopic constants and the newly available dispersion coefficients are used to construct the entire van der Waals potentials of Zn2, Cd2, and Hg2. There are indications that the ground state Hg2 potential predicted by the present study is possibly the most accurate to date. No unequivocal conclusion can be made for Zn2 and Cd2 potentials. Compared with the recent experiments, the present Zn2 bond length is eight percent too small, and the present Cd2 bond length is eight percent too large. However, both Zn2 and Cd2 bond lengths predicted by the present study are in good agreement with the quantum Monte Carlo results.