https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2008-00174-3
On the transition between directed bonding and helium-like angular correlation in a modified Hooke-Calogero model
ETH Zurich, P.O. Box CAB 24, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Corresponding author: a mueller-herold@env.ethz.ch
Received:
18
June
2008
Revised:
4
August
2008
Published online:
3
October
2008
Angular correlation in three-body systems varies between the limiting cases
of slightly perturbed equi-distribution, as in the electronic ground state
of helium and directed bond-type bent structure, as in the isolated water
molecule. In an exactly solvable modification of the Hooke-Calogero model,
it is shown that there is a sharp transition between the two cases if the
particles' masses are suitably varied. In the Hooke-Calogero model
attraction between different particles is harmonic and the repulsion between
equal particles is given by a 1/r2 potential. The bent structure
appears in the angular distribution function if the masses of the two equal
particles are below a critical value, which depends on the mass of the third
particle. Above the critical value, the angular correlation is of helium
type and exhibits a minimum at 0
corresponding to the Coulomb hole and
a maximum at 180. The model thus demonstrates the modulating role of
mass in the transition between semi-rigid structure and more diffuse nuclear
states.
PACS: 33.15.Dj – Interatomic distances and angles / 03.65.Ge – Solutions of wave equations: bound states
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2008
