Long-range Rydberg molecule Rb2 : Two-electron R -matrix calculations at intermediate internuclear distances

Abstract

The adiabatic potential energy curves of Rb$_2$ in the long-range Rydberg electronic states are calculated using the two-electron \textit{R}-matrix method [M. Tarana, R. Curik, Phys. Rev. A \textbf{93}, 012515 (2016)] for the intermediate internuclear separations between 35 a.u. and 200 a.u. The results are compared with the zero-range models to find a region of the internuclear distances where the Fermi's pseudopotential approach provides accurate energies. A finite-range potential model of the atomic perturber is used to calculate the wave functions of the Rydberg electron and their features specific for the studied range of internuclear distances are identified.