Exotic molecules consisting of an antiproton and a hydrogen atom

A theoretical study is conducted on the stability of exotic antiproton-hydrogen molecular anions ( $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ ), which in the separated atom limit correlate with $\overline{p}+\mathrm{H}(n=2)$ ( $n$ being the principal quantum number). The $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ molecule in the electronic ground state is highly unstable due to pair annihilation and autodetachment ($\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{p}p+e$). However, if the $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ molecule is electronically excited, the molecular stability can be drastically improved. Since the excited states of the $\mathrm{H}$ atom have accidental degeneracy, the asymptotic form of the Born-Oppenheimer potential curve of $\overline{p}+\mathrm{H}(n=2)$ behaves as $1/{R}^{2}$ ( $R$ being the relative distance), which can play a critical role in the bonding and stability of the molecule. It is found that the $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ molecule in the first electronic excited state and in a high rotational state is sufficiently stable and has a lifetime dominated by spontaneous radiative emission ($\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{p}+\mathrm{H}+h\ensuremath{\nu}$). The $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ system is dynamically similar to ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, which had been commonly considered to be unstable due to autodetachment. However, recent measurements of ion-beam sputtering unambiguously verified the existence of long-lived ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ molecules in high rotational states. This suggests that the $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ molecules may actually be created if one employs experimental means such as the chemical sputtering of hydrogen-rich targets with $\overline{p}$ beams.A theoretical study is conducted on the stability of exotic antiproton-hydrogen molecular anions ($\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$), which in the separated atom limit correlate with $\overline{p}+\mathrm{H}(n=2)$ ($n$ being the principal quantum number). The $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ molecule in the electronic ground state is highly unstable due to pair annihilation and autodetachment ($\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{p}p+e$). However, if the $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ molecule is electronically excited, the molecular stability can be drastically improved. Since the excited states of the $\mathrm{H}$ atom have accidental degeneracy, the asymptotic form of the Born-Oppenheimer potential curve of $\overline{p}+\mathrm{H}(n=2)$ behaves as $1/{R}^{2}$ ($R$ being the relative distance), which can play a critical role in the bonding and stability of the molecule. It is found that the $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ molecule in the first electronic excited state and in a high rotational state is sufficiently stable and has a lifetime dominated by spontaneous radiative emission ($\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{p}+\mathrm{H}+h\ensuremath{\nu}$). The $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ system is dynamically similar to ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, which had been commonly considered to be unstable due to autodetachment. However, recent measurements of ion-beam sputtering unambiguously verified the existence of long-lived ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ molecules in high rotational states. This suggests that the $\overline{p}\mathrm{H}$ molecules may actually be created if one employs experimental means such as the chemical sputtering of hydrogen-rich targets with $\overline{p}$ beams.

Physical Review AOct 8, 20183 citations

Hydrogen-like Atoms

WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooksFeb 6, 20240 citations

Hydrogen-Like Atoms

Shu Hotta

Springer eBooksJan 1, 20230 citations

Capture of negative exotic particles by atoms, ions and molecules

James S. Cohen

This article describes the capture of heavy negative particles (μ−, π−, K−, ) by normal atoms, ions and molecules to form exotic systems. Capture by even the hydrogen atom presents great challenges for theoretical treatment. The wide variety of methods used are reviewed, including perturbative, two-state adiabatic and diabatic, time-independent quantum mechanical, time-dependent semiclassical and quantum mechanical and quasi-classical treatments. A few of these methods, as well as the Fermi–Teller model, have also been applied to heavier atomic targets. Most of the methods, other than the quasi-classical formulations, are not yet up to treating the dynamical electron correlation and multiple ionization found to be important in capture by multi-electron atoms, or the vibronic coupling found to be important in capture by simple molecules. The essential elements of potentially more rigorous quantum mechanical theories are characterized. The experimental data on capture states and relative capture probabilities in mixtures are also discussed. The connection of this experimental data to the theoretical capture calculations is fairly tenuous, but forthcoming experiments with antiprotons promise direct tests of some of the recent theoretical findings.This article describes the capture of heavy negative particles (μ−, π−, K−, ) by normal atoms, ions and molecules to form exotic systems. Capture by even the hydrogen atom presents great challenges for theoretical treatment. The wide variety of methods used are reviewed, including perturbative, two-state adiabatic and diabatic, time-independent quantum mechanical, time-dependent semiclassical and quantum mechanical and quasi-classical treatments. A few of these methods, as well as the Fermi–Teller model, have also been applied to heavier atomic targets. Most of the methods, other than the quasi-classical formulations, are not yet up to treating the dynamical electron correlation and multiple ionization found to be important in capture by multi-electron atoms, or the vibronic coupling found to be important in capture by simple molecules. The essential elements of potentially more rigorous quantum mechanical theories are characterized. The experimental data on capture states and relative capture probabilities in mixtures are also discussed. The connection of this experimental data to the theoretical capture calculations is fairly tenuous, but forthcoming experiments with antiprotons promise direct tests of some of the recent theoretical findings.

Reports on Progress in PhysicsAug 21, 200487 citations

A theoretical study is conducted on the stability of exotic antiproton-hydrogen molecular anions (

\overline{p}\mathrm{H}

), which in the separated atom limit correlate with

\overline{p}+\mathrm{H}(n=2)

(

n

being the principal quantum number). The

\overline{p}\mathrm{H}

molecule in the electronic ground state is highly unstable due to pair annihilation and autodetachment ($\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{p}p+e$). However, if the

\overline{p}\mathrm{H}

molecule is electronically excited, the molecular stability can be drastically improved. Since the excited states of the

\mathrm{H}

atom have accidental degeneracy, the asymptotic form of the Born-Oppenheimer potential curve of

\overline{p}+\mathrm{H}(n=2)

behaves as

1/{R}^{2}

(

R

being the relative distance), which can play a critical role in the bonding and stability of the molecule. It is found that the

\overline{p}\mathrm{H}

molecule in the first electronic excited state and in a high rotational state is sufficiently stable and has a lifetime dominated by spontaneous radiative emission ($\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{p}+\mathrm{H}+h\ensuremath{\nu}$). The

\overline{p}\mathrm{H}

system is dynamically similar to ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, which had been commonly considered to be unstable due to autodetachment. However, recent measurements of ion-beam sputtering unambiguously verified the existence of long-lived ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ molecules in high rotational states. This suggests that the

\overline{p}\mathrm{H}

molecules may actually be created if one employs experimental means such as the chemical sputtering of hydrogen-rich targets with

\overline{p}

beams.