Potential Energy Curves
Potential Energy Curves of Harmonic Oscillator and Anharmonic Oscillator
The potential energy curve V(R) for a harmonic oscillator is a parabola, and the energy levels are equally spaced. The vibrational energy Ev increases linearly with the vibrational quantum number v according to the equation-Ev = h𝜈(v + 1/2)
Unlike the energy levels of the harmonic oscillator potential, which are evenly spaced by h𝜈, the Morse potential level spacing decreases as the energy approaches the dissociation energy. The dissociation energy De is larger than the true energy required for dissociation (Do) due to the zero point energy of the lowest (n = 0) vibrational level.
Share
