Ns → n′s transition of hydrogen atom by positron impact with screened Coulomb interactions

Abstract

We have made an investigation on H(ns) → H(n′ s) transition processes by positron impact with screened Coulomb potentials (SCP) by employing a distorted-wave formalism in the momentum space. Making use of simple variational wave functions of the hydrogen atom interacting with SCP we have been able to obtain the partial-wave scattering amplitudes in closed analytical forms. We have then used these distorted-wave scattering amplitudes to make a detailed study on differential and total cross sections in the energy range 20–300 eV. This study reveals some hitherto unknown features of the differential and total cross section. To the best of our knowledge such a study on the differential and total cross sections for inelastic positron-hydrogen collisions with SCP is reported for the first time in the literature.