The additivity of the two and three-body potential energy surfaces (PES) is studied for the van der Waals (vdW) complex formed
by Br2 and two Helium atoms. First, the three-dimensional interaction potential for HeBr2 molecule is calculated using a coupled-cluster (CCSD(T)) method. This surface shows a double-minimum topology in agreement
with the available experimental data. In turn, an intermolecular potential energy surface for He2Br2 complex in the ground state is calculated at the levels of fourth-order (MP4) Møller-Plesset and coupled-cluster [CCSD(T)]
approximations. It is found that results obtained by summing the above [CCSD(T)] three-body parameterized HeBr2 interactions and the He–He interaction are in very good accord with the corresponding MP4/CSSD(T) configuration energies.
Variational calculations using the above potential form are performed to calculate the bound states of the vdW complex and
these results are compared with available experimental data.