Collision between two ortho-positronium (Ps) atoms: A four-body Coulomb problem

H. R. J. Walters, Sudhakar Sahoo, Sharon Gilmore

Hasi Ray

The elastic collision between two ortho-positronium (e.g. S=1) atoms is studied using an ab-initio static-exchange model (SEM) in the center of mass (CM) frame considering the system as a four-body Coulomb problem where all the Coulomb interaction terms in the direct and exchange channels are treated exactly. A coupled-channel methodology in momentum space is used to solve Lippman-Schwinger equation following the integral approach. A new SEM code is developed in which the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) scattering amplitude acts as input to derive the SEM amplitude adapting the partial wave analysis. The s-, p- and d- wave elastic phase shifts and the corresponding partial cross sections for the spin alignment S=0, i.e. singlet (+) and S=2, i.e. triplet (-) states are studied. An augmented-Born approximation is used to include the contribution of higher partial waves more accurately to determine the total/integrated elastic cross section ( ), the quenching cross section ( ) and ortho to para conversion ratio ( ). The effective range theory is used to determine the scattering lengths and effective ranges in the s-wave elastic scattering. The theory includes the non-adiabatic short-range effects due to exchange.

P. А. Vlasov, O. N. Gadomskiĭ, M. G. Shageev

Hasi Ray

The collision between two positronium (Ps) atoms is a four-body Coulomb problem with all the particles of equal masses. It is very difficult to compute the Born-Oppenheimer (BO) scattering amplitude involving the nine-dimensional integrals with four Coulomb interaction terms between the atoms. It is extremely difficult in the electron-electron correlation term to include the exchange or antisymmetry between two system electrons exactly. Earlier the Ps and H system was easily approximated as a three-body problem, due to the light mass of Ps the center of mass of the system was confined in the H-nucleus. A simple substitution of variables using no approximation has enabled to evaluate the electron-electron Coulomb exchange-correlation term exactly in such a four-center problem in the center of mass frame involving a nine dimensional integral. The present code of Ps-Ps collision using an ab-initio and exact static-exchange model (SEM) that uses the BO amplitude as input, can reproduce exactly the same data of Ps and H system just by using the appropriate atomic parameters and reduced mass of the system. The s-wave elastic phase shifts and the corresponding partial cross sections are calculated for both the singlet and triplet channels. In addition, we calculate the integrated /total elastic cross section ( ) and the quenching cross section ( q  ); an augmentedBorn method is used to evaluate  more accurately. The effective range theory is applied to get the scattering length and the effective range. The SEM can include only the non-adiabatic short-range effects but no long-range interaction. Now it is easy to extend the basis of a coupled-channel method to include the excitation and continuum channels exactly for better accuracy following the present prescription and avoiding the approximation tools. PACS 03.65.Nk – Scattering theory PACS 36.10.Dr – Positronium PACS 34.50.Cx – Elastic; ultracold collisions

M. W. J. Bromley, Jim Mitroy, S. A. Novikov +2 more

Jim Mitroy, S. A. Novikov

When positrons are injected into a gas, 75% of the positronium (Ps) is likely to be formed as long-lived ortho-Ps. The main decay mechanisms for the ortho-Ps have been assumed to be natural decay of ortho-Ps and pickoff annihilation of the positron during Ps-atom collisions. A third possibility for annihilation is $\mathrm{o}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}\mathrm{P}\mathrm{s}$ conversion due to the spin-orbit interaction between the atom and colliding Ps. This extra quenching mechanism may explain a number of phenomena observed in the annihilation spectrum of Kr and Xe, including the very small Ps fraction of 3% seen for Xe.