Variational calculation on the possible existence of a bound state of He₃

Abstract

A variational calculation has confirmed earlier suggestions that 4He3 has a bound state. The partial wave expansion of Simonov was found to be slowly convergent and by this method no bound state was obtained although there was clear evidence that He3 would be closer to a stable bound state than He2. A variational wave function based directly on interparticle separations and the use of Morse-potential eigenfunctions was rapidly convergent and gave a lower limit to the binding energy of 0"63 K.