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

Abstract

The elastic collision between two ortho-positronium (e.g. S = 1) atoms is studied using an ab-initio static exchange model (SEM) in the centre of mass (CM) frame by 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 (σ), the quenching cross-section (σ q) and ortho-to-para conversion ratio (σ/σ q). 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.