Vibrational dependence of the anisotropic intermolecular potential of Ar–HF

A new intermolecular potential for Ar–HF is obtained by fitting to results from high-resolution microwave, far-infrared, and infrared spectroscopy. The new potential, designated H6(4,3,2), is a function of the diatom mass-reduced vibrational quantum number η=(v+ (1)/(2) )/(μHX)1/2 as well as the intermolecular distance R and angle θ, and has 22 adjustable parameters. It reproduces all the available spectroscopic data for levels of Ar–HF correlating with HF, v=0, 1, and 2, and DF, v=0 and 1. The H6(4,3,2) potential is qualitatively similar to previous potentials, with a linear Ar–H–F equilibrium geometry and a secondary minimum at the linear Ar–F–H geometry. Compared to the potential of Nesbitt et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 90, 4855 (1989)], obtained from spectra of Ar–HF (v=1), the H6(4,3,2) potential is rather deeper near the equilibrium geometry (Ar–H–F), but shallower around the secondary minimum (Ar–F–H). The absolute well depth increases by 19 cm−1 between HF v=0 and v=1. The vibrationally averaged induction energy is calculated to be substantially (8.1 cm−1 ) greater for v=1 than for v=0, and is responsible for most of the observed red shift in the complex. Predictions of additional spectroscopic properties that would test the new potential are given, including far-infrared and overtone spectra of Ar–DF and dipole moments of excited states of Ar–HF and Ar–DF.