Theoretical Study of Triatomic Systems Involving Helium Atoms

Abstract

The triatomic 4He system and its isotopic species \({^4{\rm He}_2^3{\rm He}}\) are theoretically investigated. By adopting the best empirical helium interaction potentials, we calculate the bound state energy levels as well as the rates for the three-body recombination processes: 4He + 4He + 4He → 4 He2 + 4He and 4He + 4He + 3He → 4He2 + 3He. We consider not only zero total angular momentum J = 0 states, but also J > 0 states. We also extend our study to mixed helium-alkali triatomic systems, that is 4He2X with X = 7Li, 23Na, 39K, 85 Rb, and 133Cs. The energy levels of all the J ≥ 0 bound states for these species are calculated as well as the rates for three-body recombination processes such as 4He + 4He + 7Li → 4 He2 + 7Li and 4He + 4He + 7Li → 4 He7Li + 4He. In our calculations, the adiabatic hyperspherical representation is employed but we also obtain preliminary results using the Gaussian expansion method.