Potential energy curves from the electron gas model. II. The ion–rare gas interactions

The electron gas model already proposed in the literature for computing potential energy curves between neutral, spherical systems is here extended to nonneutral interactions by employing a physically intuitive and numerically simple form of the induction forces within the overlap region. Calculations are performed for Li+, Na+, and K+ interacting with heavy rare gases, from neon through xenon, and the results are compared with the available molecular beam data. The relevant potential parameters are also presented for all the examined cases.