Accurate solution of the proton–hydrogen three-body scattering problem

Abstract

An accurate solution to the fundamental three-body problem of proton–hydrogen scattering including direct scattering and ionization, electron capture and electron capture into the continuum (ECC) is presented. The problem has been addressed using a quantum-mechanical two-center convergent close-coupling approach. At each energy the internal consistency of the solution is demonstrated with the help of single-center calculations, with both approaches converging independently to the same electron-loss cross section. This is the sum of the electron capture, ECC and direct ionization cross sections, which are only obtainable separately in the solution of the problem using the two-center expansion. Agreement with experiment for the electron-capture cross section is excellent. However, for the ionization cross sections some discrepancy exists. Given the demonstrated internal consistency we remain confident in the provided theoretical solution.