Universal reduced potential function for diatomic systems

The potential energy functions of 200 diatomic systems, with dissociation energies D-e ranging from few eV to hundreds of mu eV, are well described by a new three-parameter potential energy function. Identification of the evaluated values of a dimensionless quantity, xi(n)= L-2/L-n [L-n=(n!D-e/f(n))(1/n), a scaled length parameter, and f(n), the nth force constant evaluated at the equilibrium internuclear distance R-e], is proposed as a reliable criterion to search for the universal scaling features of potentials and spectroscopic constants for bound diatomic systems. Our study suggests a useful approach to predicting future molecular spectroscopic constants.