title: Electron correlation in the 3 (1)Sigma(g)+ and 2 (1)Sigma(u)+ excited state lithium molecule.
abstract: Electron correlation effects in the two excited states of Li(2), 3 (1)Sigma(g) (+) and 2 (1)Sigma(u) (+), one with a shelf shape and another with double minima in their potential energy curves, have been studied with the aid of the calculated electron pair density distribution as a function of the internuclear distance and the analysis of the natural orbitals. Both states show increased electron pair densities at intermediate interelectronic distances around the second minimum of their potential energy curves. Since the bond breaks homolitically this observation runs contrary to regular expectations. Analysis of the electron pair density distributions and the natural orbitals provides mechanisms to account for this abnormal behavior.
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Huzhou University, Zhejiang 313000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jesus M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ugalde