Mean-field approach to the algebraic treatment of molecules: Linear molecules

We study recently proposed algebraic models [F. Iachello, Chem. Phys. Lett. 78, 581 (1981); F. Iachello and R. D. Levine, J. Chem. Phys. 77, 3046 (1982); F. Iachello, S. Oss, and R. Lemus, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 146, 56 (1991); F. Iachello and S. Oss, ibid. 149, 132 (1991)] for diatomic and linear polyatomic molecules in the mean-field approximation. In this approach, we recover the harmonic molecular spectra efficiently and accurately and, more importantly, we are able to explore the geometrical meaning of boson operators and to suggest boson Hamiltonians that have closer links to molecular geometries. © 1992 The American Physical Society.