The orthogonal projection method in scattering theory

This work gives a detailed account of the orthogonal projection method in the theory of two- and three-body scattering, which is based on the employment of orthogonal projecting pseudopotentials. The method is applied to a number of physical problems, of which the following the most important: the improvement of convergence and the rearragement of Born series to make them convergent at low energies in the presence of bound states in a system, as well as the consideration of the Pauli exclusion principle in the scattering of composite particles and in the integral theory of direct nuclear reactions. The properties of eigenvalues of kernels of the equations obtained are investigated and the conditions for the convergence of their iterations are derived. For the three-body problem, the general case of three different particles is considered, as well as two particular cases, namely, two particles in the field of a heavy core and three identical particles. The proven theorems are illustrated by numerical examples. Other useful applications of the proposed approach are listed and discussed, in particular, those in solid-state physics and in the theory of electromagnetic transitions. The approach suggested is compared with those of the other authors and the prospects of using the developed formalism are discussed.     

Path of Momentum Integral in the Skorniakov-Ter-Martirosian Equation

The Skorniakov-Ter-Martirosian (STM) integral equation is widely used for the quantum three-body problems of low-energy particles (e.g., ultracold atom gases). With this equation these three-body problems can be efficiently solved in the momentum space. In this approach the boundary condition for the case that all the three particles are gathered together is described by the upper limit of the momentum integral, i.e., the momentum cutoff. On the other hand, in realistic systems, the three-body recombination (TBR) process can occur when all these three particles are close to each other. In this process two particles form a deep dimer and the other particle can gain high kinetic energy and then escape from the low-energy system. In the presence of the TBR process, the momentum-cutoff in the STM equation would include a non-zero imaginary part. As a result, the momentum integral in the STM equation should be done in the complex-momentum plane. In this case the result of the integral depends on the choice of the integral path. Obviously, only one integral path can lead to the correct result. In this paper we consider how to correctly choose the integral path for the STM equation. We take the atom-dimer scattering problem in a specific ultracold atom gas as an example, and show the results given by different integral paths. Based on the result for this case we explore the reasonable integral paths for general case.     

Wave-packet discretization of a continuum: Path toward practically solving few-body scattering problems

A new method for discretizing a three-body continuum with the aid of the L ₂ basis of stationary wave packets is considered within the problem of three-body scattering. Substantial advantages of employing this basis in solving problems of few-body scattering are demonstrated. Specific applications of this approach are exemplified by exploring the problem of scattering of a composite particle on a heavy nucleus with allowance for the excitation of this particle to continuum states. This is done within two alternative approaches: a direct wave-packet discretization of a three-body continuum and a method that is based on the Feshbach projection formalism. It is shown explicitly that the resulting scattering amplitudes are convergent as the number of wave-packet states that are taken into account is increased. The results obtained here are compared with the results of other authors whose treatment was based on alternative methods for discretizing a continuum.     

Borromean three-body heteroatomic resonances

We present an approach to analyze recent experimental evidences of Efimov resonant states in mixtures of ultracold gases, by considering two-species three-body atomic systems bound in a Borromean configuration, where all the two-body interactions are unbound. For such Borromean three-body systems, it is shown that a continuum three-body s-wave resonance emerges from an Efimov state as a scattering length or a three-body scale is moved. The energy and width of the resonant state are determined from a scaling function with arguments given by dimension-less energy ratios relating the two-body virtual state subsystem energies with the shallowest three-body bound state. The peculiar behavior of such resonances is that their peaks are expected to move to lower values of the scattering length, with increasing width, as one raises the temperature. For Borromean systems, two resonant peaks are expected in ultralow-temperature regimes, which will disappear at higher energies. It is shown how a Borromean-Efimov excited bound state turns out to a resonant state by tuning the virtual two-body subsystem energies or scattering lengths, with all energies written in units of the next deeper shallowest Efimov state energy. The resonance position and width for the decay into the continuum are obtained as universal scaling functions (limit cycle) of the dimensionless ratios of the two and three-body scales, which are calculated numerically within a zero-range renormalized three-body model.     

Surface-integral formulation of scattering theory

We formulate scattering theory in the framework of a surface-integral approach utilizing analytically known asymptotic forms of the two-body and three-body scattering wavefunctions. This formulation is valid for both short-range and long-range Coulombic interactions. New general definitions for the potential scattering amplitude are presented. For the Coulombic potentials, the generalized amplitude gives the physical on-shell amplitude without recourse to a renormalization procedure. New post and prior forms for the Coulomb three-body breakup amplitude are derived. This resolves the problem of the inability of the conventional scattering theory to define the post form of the breakup amplitude for charged particles. The new definitions can be written as surface-integrals convenient for practical calculations. The surface-integral representations are extended to amplitudes of direct and rearrangement scattering processes taking place in an arbitrary three-body system. General definitions for the wave operators are given that unify the currently used channel-dependent definitions.     

Multiple scattering with three-body forces

The multiple-scattering formalism is generalized to account for simultaneous interactions of a projectile with two target particles. In the cluster expansion of multiple-scattering theory such three-body interactions combine with iterates of two-body interactions. Some comparisons of multiple scattering with the Faddeev theory are given.     

Three-Body System with Two-Channel Zero-Range Interaction Model of Feshbach Resonance

We perform three-body calculations of trimers and atom-dimer scattering near a Feshbach resonance using two interaction models. The first model is a one-channel zero-range model, where the scattering length follows the phenomenological dependence on the external magnetic field. The second is a two-channel model capable to describe the Feshbach resonance. The scattering length dependence on magnetic detuning is recovered. We compare the predictions of these two models, and show that near a Feshbach resonance important differences are expected.     

Coulomb break-up of the deuteron by the positive muon

The μ⁺d → μ⁺pn process is described in the framework of three-body scattering theory which includes two charged particles. Explicit formulas for the break-up amplitude are given, and muon spectra are calculated in a simple approximation. n-p off-energy-shell effects are investigated.     

Three-body recombination in bose gases with large scattering length

An effective field theory for the three-body system with large scattering length is applied to three-body recombination to a weakly bound s-wave state in a Bose gas. Our model independent analysis demonstrates that the three-body recombination constant alpha is not universal, but can take any value between zero and 67.9Planck's over 2pia(4)/m, where a is the scattering length. Other low-energy three-body observables can be predicted in terms of a and alpha. Near a Feshbach resonance, alpha should oscillate between those limits as the magnetic field B approaches the point where a-->infinity. In any interval of B over which a increases by a factor of 22.7, alpha should have a zero.     

Faddeev approach to the three-body problem in total-angular-momentum representation

For a system of three charged particles the Faddeev equations are derived in the total-angular-momentum representation. They have the form of coupled sets of partial differential equations in three-dimensional space and can be used to develop new efficient numerical procedures to tackle the three-body Coulomb problem. The asymptotic conditions at large distances corresponding both to binary scattering and bound-state problems are presented. The behaviour of the Faddeev components near the triple and double collision points is studied.     

A three-body scattering problem in the molecular mass limit

A three-body problem is studied that involves the scattering of a heavy particle from a bound state of a heavy and a light particle. For fairly large mass ratios we find many partial waves involved in the scattering with both elastic and inelastic resonances present. It is also found that virtually all of the breakup inelasticity is in the odd partial waves, if the heavy particles are identical bosons. The same problem is solved in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and it is found that the effective potential between the heavy particles develops an imaginary part in the odd partial waves and thus gives a quantitative account of the three-body results including the inelasticity. The linear combination of nuclear orbitais method is applied to the same problem and is found to be inadequate.     

General three-particle scattering theory

A unified treatment of three-particle scattering theory with a three-body force in addition to the usual pair interactions is developed. The relationship of the generalized AGS and Faddeev formalisms to each other as well as distinct versions of each corresponding to the two most natural techniques for handling the three-body potential are established. It is found, just as in the case without the three-particle force, that the AGS formalism appears to be more practical for considering elastic and rearrangement scattering in two-body channels. On the other hand, for scattering amplitudes with at least one three-body channel (breakup and the 3-to-3) the Faddeev version of the theory is preferable. Other advantages of each formalism depending upon the treatment of the three-body interaction are noted.     

Low-Energy Three-Body Recombination Near a Feshbach Resonance

 Ultralow-energy three-body recombination of identical particles with internal degrees of freedom is considered. The study reveals two different mechanisms for recombination enhancement below and above resonance, namely, production of loosely bound dimers for positive scattering length and diminishing of the potential barrier in the entrance channel for negative . The recombination rate on both sides of a Feshbach resonance is found to diverge as a power of the resonance detuning. The results are in agreement with experimental data. Received October 26, 2001; accepted for publication November 13, 2001     

Bound-state calculations of the three-dimensional Yakubovsky equations with the inclusion of three-body forces

The four-body Yakubovsky equations in a three-dimensional approach with the inclusion of the three-body forces are proposed. The four-body bound state with two- and three-body interactions is formulated in the three-dimensional approach for identical particles as a function of vector Jacobi momenta, specifically, the magnitudes of the momenta and the angles between them. The modified three-dimensional Yakubovsky integral equations are successfully solved with the scalar two-meson exchange three-body force, where the Malfliet-Tjon-type two-body force is implemented. The three-body force effects on the energy eigenvalue and the four-body wave function, as well as accuracy of our numerical calculations are presented.     

Three-body bound states in Amado's model

We have calculated the eigenvalue trajectories of the scattering kernel for a system of three, identical particles with Yamaguchi interactions, for both spin half and spin zero particles. For potential strengths corresponding to large values of the two-body scattering length, we find several, weakly-bound, three-body excited states of the type proposed by Efimov, and calculate their binding energies.     

Low-Energy Universality in Three-Body Models

 We study the low-energy universality observed in three-body models through a scale-independent approach. From the already estimated infinite number of three-body excited energy states, which happen in the limit when the energy of the subsystem goes to zero, we are able to identify the lower energies of the helium trimers as possible examples of Thomas-Efimov states. By considering this example, we illustrate the usefulness of a scaling function, which we have defined. The approach is applied to bosonic systems of three identical particles, and also to the case where two kinds of particles are present. Received June 30, 1999; revised July 27, 1999; accepted for publication August 29, 1999     

Dynamic polarization of 6,7Li nuclei in the elastic scattering of α particles

The elastic scattering of α particles on weakly bound ^6,7Li cluster nuclei is considered with allowance for their dynamic polarization within the three-particle model. The considered states of the αd and αt continuums are projected on a finite basis of stationary wave packets, which allows the total three-body problem to be reduced to a matrix problem. The results from calculating α + ^6,7Li-elastic scattering differential cross sections are considered as illustration of the three-particle approach and is compared to the results of other authors.     

Three-Body Physics in a Finite Volume

Three particles with large two-body scattering lengths display universal properties including a spectrum of three-body bound states called “Efimov trimers”. I calculate the spectrum of three identical bosons inside a finite cubic box below the three-body breakup threshold. The dependence of the spectrum on the box size and the effects of the breakdown of spherical symmetry are investigated using effective field theory. The renormalization of the effective field theory in the finite volume is explicitly verified. The study of the three-nucleon system inside a finite cubic volume provides a tool for the understanding of Lattice QCD results. I study the triton in a finite volume at physical and unphysical pion masses.     

A renormalized equation for the three-body system with short-range interactions

We study the three-body system with short-range interactions characterized by an unnaturally large two-body scattering length. We show that the off-shell scattering amplitude is cutoff independent up to power corrections. This allows us to derive an exact renormalization group equation for the three-body force. We also obtain a renormalized equation for the off-shell scattering amplitude. This equation is invariant under discrete scale transformations. The periodicity of the spectrum of bound states originally observed by Efimov is a consequence of this symmetry. The functional dependence of the three-body scattering length on the two-body scattering length can be obtained analytically using the asymptotic solution to the integral equation. An analogous formula for the three-body recombination coefficient is also obtained.