Scattered-wave study of the magnetic properties of the potassium trimer

The $X\alpha$ scattered-wave (XASW) technique is applied to the trimer of potassium, and the appearance of the high-field electron-spin-resonance (ESR) spectrum is predicted. Contact spin densities, including core-polarization contributions, are calculated for several different structures; the resulting model hyperfine patterns strongly reflect the assumed geometrical configuration of the atoms. Comparison of these model spectra with experimental results is discussed.