  We explore long-range interactions between two atoms excited into high
principal quantum number n Rydberg states, and present calculated potential
energy surfaces (PES) for various symmetries of doubly excited ns and np
rubidium atoms. We show that the PES for these symmetries exhibit deep (~GHz)
potential wells, which can support very extended (~micrometers) bound
vibrational states (macrodimers). We present n-scaling relations for both the
depth De of the wells and the equilibrium separations Re of these macrodimers,
and explore their response to small electric fields and stability with respect
to predissociation. Finally, we present a scheme to form and study these
macrodimers via photoassociation, and show how one can probe the various
\ell-character of the potential wells.
