Bohr's 1913 molecular model revisited

Abstract

It is generally believed that the old quantum theory, as presented by Niels Bohr in 1913, fails when applied to few electron systems, such as the H2 molecule. Here we find new solutions within the Bohr theory that describe the potential energy curve for the lowest singlet and triplet states of H2 about as well as the early wave mechanical treatment of Heitler and London. We also develop a new interpolation scheme which substantially improves the agreement with the exact ground state potential curve of H2 and provides a good description of more complicated molecules such as LiH, Li2, BeH and He2.