Potential curve of the ground electronic state of copper dimer

A potential energy curve was obtained for the ground electronic state of th e Cu-63(2) molecule. The lower part of the curve was approximated by the mo del of a perturbed Morse oscillator and the middle part by the Rydberg-Klei n-Ries model. The potential curve portion corresponding to large internucle ar distances was approximated by the van der Waals equation. The reliabilit y of the obtained curve was checked by comparing vibrational energy and rot ational constant values calculated from experimental data and found by solv ing the radial wave equation. The potential curve was used to calculate cen trifugal distortion constants earlier unknown.