Abstract
The interaction energy of two helium atoms in the ground state is calculated as a function of internuclear separation. Use is made of a variational trial state function developed in analogy with Hirschfelder and Linnett's treatment of the hydrogen‐hydrogen interaction. The results are in good agreement with the best previous treatments in the repulsive region as well as with the results of Rosen, Margenau, and Page in the neighborhood of the van der Waals minimum; in addition, information is obtained concerning the instantaneous mutual polarization of the two atoms.

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