Schrödinger equation solved for the hydrogen molecule with unprecedented accuracy
Krzysztof Pachucki1, Jacek Komasa2
1Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|May 2, 2016
Summary
We accurately solved the hydrogen molecule
Area of Science:
- Quantum Chemistry
- Atomic Physics
Background:
- Accurate knowledge of molecular hydrogen (H2) energy levels is crucial for determining fundamental physical constants, such as the proton charge radius.
- Precise H2 spectroscopy is needed for testing hypothetical long-range forces between hadrons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To significantly improve theoretical predictions for the hydrogen molecule.
- To achieve unprecedented accuracy in solving the nonrelativistic Schrödinger equation for H2.
Main Methods:
- Solving the nonrelativistic Schrödinger equation for the hydrogen molecule.
- Achieving a theoretical accuracy of 10⁻¹².
Main Results:
- The nonrelativistic Schrödinger equation for H2 was solved to an accuracy of 10⁻¹².
- This represents a significant advancement in theoretical predictions for molecular hydrogen.
Conclusions:
- The achieved accuracy in theoretical predictions for H2 is a crucial first step toward enhanced spectroscopic measurements.
- This work aims to stimulate parallel advancements in experimental molecular hydrogen spectroscopy.
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