ABSTRACT
A new semiempirical potential is described for the ground state X1Σ+ of the alkali halide diatoms. The model potential is the first to account for the damping of all the electrostatic and induction potential terms as well as of the long-range dispersion potential. Accordingly, the potential does not have a negative singularity at vanishingly small internuclear distances and is the first Rittner-type model with a realistic dependence of the repulsion at short distances. The new potential is tested by comparing with ab initio potentials, which presently are only available in the well region for the molecules LiF, LiCl and CsI. The three parameters of the new potential are determined by fitting the latest experimental parameters for the well depth De, bond distance Re and vibrational frequency ωe. The new potential is in good agreement with the ab initio potentials.
