Discrete Energy Levels Associated with the Lennard-Jones Potential

The radial wave equation for two particles with a Lennard-Jones relative potential energy, in the reduced form, −(Rψ)′′+25b2(R−12−R−6)Rψ=−λ2Rψ, has been examined for discrete eigenvalues by both variation and perturbation theory. The largest eigenvalue, λ0 (corresponding to the lowest energy level), has been followed, as a function of b, until it disappears into the positive energy continuum. A short table of λ0 and λ1 has been computed.