Atomic screening and e+e− pair photoproduction at low energies

Abstract

The effect of screening by atomic electrons on the behavior of electron and positron wave functions in the continuous spectrum at small distances is studied. It is shown that these asymptotics are affected not only by the static potential of atomic electrons, but also by the polarization potential, as well as by the exchange interaction, which is essential for nonrelativistic electrons. A simple analytical expression is obtained for the photoproduction cross section of e+e− pair in an atomic field near the threshold. The spectrum and angular distribution of the produced particles are considered. It is shown that screening significantly affects the cross section in the near-threshold region.