The pair polarizability anisotropy of SF₆ in the point-atom-polarizability approximation

Abstract

The depolarized light scattering intensity and second Kerr virial coefficient for SF₆ are two to three times the values calculated with the dipole-induced-dipole model for the pair polarizability anisotropy and a Lennard-Jones pair potential. Contrary to earlier suggestions, this discrepancy is not attributable to the distribution of polarizable matter within an SF₆ molecule, at least within the point-atom-polarizability approximation. However, the calculated thermal average of the square of the polarizability anisotropy for SF₆ can be doubled by replacing the Lennard-Jones potential with a modified Lennard-Jones potential.