Van der Waals Attraction of Hydrogen Atoms

The potential energy of attraction between hydrogen atoms spaced by distance R on the order of alpha(B)/alpha, where alpha(B) is the Bohr radius and alpha = e(2)/hc = 1/137 is the fine structure constant, has been determined. The energy depends of R according to the law of R-6 at distances a(B) << R << a(B)/alpha and according to the law of R-7 at distances R >> a(B)/alpha.

Automated summary

The potential energy of attraction between hydrogen atoms depends on the distance R following a R-6 law at distances a(B) << R << a(B)/alpha and a R-7 law at distances R >> a(B)/alpha, where alpha(B) is the Bohr radius and alpha = e(2)/hc = 1/137.