Autoionization states of the positronium negative ion in exponential cosine-screened Coulomb potentials

The 2s^2 1S^e2s^2~^1{\rm S}^e autoionization resonance states of the positronium negative ion (Ps^-) in exponential cosine-screened Coulomb potentials (ECSCP) are investigated using stabilization method. Highly correlated wave functions for Ps^- are used to take into account the correlation effect of the charged particles. Results for resonance energies and widths are reported for the screening parameter in the range 0.0-0.07 (in a₀ ^-1), to the best our knowledge, for the first time in the literature.     

Photodetachment of positronium negative ions

Photodetachment of the positronium negative ion, a bound state of one positron and two electrons, has been observed. Development of a method to produce the ions efficiently using a Na coated tungsten surface has enabled the first observation of the photodetachment. The obtained lower limit of the photodetachment cross section for the wavelength of 1064 nm is consistent with the theoretical calculations reported so far. The experimental field developed in the present work gives new opportunities to explore the quantum mechanical three-body problem and to develop energy-tunable positronium beams.     

Effects of screened Coulomb (Yukawa) and exponential-cosine-screened Coulomb potentials on photoionization of H and He+

The screening effects due to the exponential-cosine-screened Coulomb and screened Coulomb (Yukawa) potentials on photoionization processes are explored within the framework of complex coordinate rotation method. The energy levels of H and He⁺ in both screened potentials shifted with various Debye screening lengths are presented. The photoionization cross sections illustrate the considerable screening effects on photoionization processes in low energy region. The shape resonances can be found near ionization thresholds for certain of Debye screening lengths. The relations between the appearance of resonances and the existence of quasi-bound states under shielding conditions are discussed.     

Removal of singularities in the Coulomb and Yukawa potentials

A complex length is introduced into the Coulomb and Yukawa potential energy equations. It is shown how this complex length can be used to remove the small-distance singularities in the above potentials. In addition, the Yukawa potential now exhibits a hard core.     

Measurement of the decay rate of the negative ion of positronium (Ps-)

A new determination of the decay rate of the negative ion of positronium (Ps-), using a beam-foil method and a stripping-based detection technique, is reported. The measured result of gamma = 2.089(15) ns(-1) is a factor of 6 more precise than the previous experimental value of gamma = 2.09(9) ns(-1), and is in excellent agreement with the theoretical value of gamma = 2.086(6) ns(-1).     

The molecular properties of the positronium negative ion

The dynamics of the positronium negative ion is described in a molecular adiabatic approximation. It is shown, how the classification of the spectrum, propensity rules for radiative and non-radiative transitions and conditions for the occurrence of shape resonances can easily be derived within this approach. Propensity rules for two-photon processes are also derived and used to demonstrate the possibility of an absorption experiment from the ground state to excite a¹S^e shape resonance, which is unique to Ps^–.     

Photodetachment of the Positronium Negative Ion with Exponential Cosine-Screened Coulomb Potentials

We have made an investigation to study the photodetachment of positronium negative ion (Ps ⁻) interacting with exponential cosine-screened Coulomb potentials (ECSCP) within the framework of dipole approximation. The dipole transition matrix elements are calculated using the asymptotic form of highly accurate initial wave function of the bound ionic state and plane wave for final electron–positronium state. Results for photodetachment cross section in ECSCP are reported for the screening parameter in the range [0.0,0.35] (in a₀^-1{a_0^{-1}}). Our results for the unscreened case agree nicely with some of the most accurate results available in the literature. Furthermore we make a comparative study of the photodetachment of Ps ⁻ in ECSCP with the photodetachment of Ps ⁻ in screened Coulomb potential. To the best of our knowledge, such a study on the photodetachment of Ps ⁻ in ECSCP is carried out for the first time in the literature.     

Doubly-Excited 1,3 P o States of H− Interacting with Screened Coulomb (Yukawa) Potentials

We have investigated the doubly excited 2s2p ³ P ^o and 2s3p ¹ P ^o resonance states of H⁻ embedded in a model plasma environment. Plasma effects are taken care of by using a screened Coulomb (Yukawa-type) potential. Correlated wave functions are used to represent the correlation effect between the charged particles. The density of resonance states has been calculated using the stabilization method. The calculated resonance energies and widths for various screening parameters are reported.     

Deflections of photoelectron classical trajectories in screened Coulomb potentials of H_2~+

The photoelectron momentum distribution of H+2in circularly polarized laser fields is studied based on classical trajectory calculations. We screen Coulomb potentials at different radii, and trace trajectories of an ensemble of electrons in such screened Coulomb potentials and circularly polarized laser fields. Simulations show that electron trajectories are bent by Coulomb fields, resulting in the laser-intensity-dependent drift of photoelectron momentum distributions in the laser polarization plane. This study intuitively explains how Coulomb potentials modify photoelectron momenta.     

Description of electrons correlation in1,3S-states of negative ion of positronium

The energy of ground^1,3S-states of negative positronium ion in the hyperspherical coordinates method has been calculated in Born-Oppenheimer and adiabatic approximations accounting the contribution of angle and radial correlation. Quasi-crossing points for autodetaching adiabatic potentials were revealed, which forms a structure in nonadiabatic potential. The received energy values have been compared with results of calculations performed using other methods. It was shown that in order to receive energy values with accuracy of 10⁻⁴ a.u. it is necessary to include more than 70 elements into the basis for determination of adiabatic potentials or to use Padé approximation on the basis dimension. Presented at the 11th Colloquium “Quantum Groups and Integrable Systems”, Prague, 20–22 June 2002. The work is supported by the Slovak Agency for Science, Grant 2/7157/20.     

Photodetachment microscopy of the hydrogen negative ion in electric field near a metal surface

According to the semi-classical theory, we study the photodetachment microscopy of H^- in the electric field near a metal surface. During the photodetachment, the electron is photo-detached by a laser and the electron is drawn toward a position-sensitive detector. The electron flux distribution is measured as a function of position. Two classical paths lead the ion to any point in the classically allowed region on the detector, and waves traveling along these paths produce an interference pattern. If the metal surface perpendicular to the electric field is added, we find that the interference pattern is related not only to the electron energy and the electric-field strength, but also to the ion--surface distance. Besides, the laser polarization also has a great influence on the electron flux distribution. We present calculations predicting the interference pattern that may be seen in experiment. We hope that our study can provide a new understanding of the electron flux distribution of negative ions in external field and surface, and can guide the future experimental research on the negative ion photo-detachment microscopy.     

Photodetachment of negative ion in a gradient electric field near a metal surface

Based on closed-orbit theory, the photodetachment of H in a gradient electric field near a metal surface is studied. It is demonstrated that the gradient electric field has a significant influence on the photodetachment of negative ions near a metal surface. With the increase of the gradient of the electric field, the oscillation in the photodetachment cross section becomes strengthened. Besides, in contrast to the photodetachment of H near a metal surface in a uniform electric field, the oscillating amplitude and the oscillating region in the cross section of a gradient electric field also become enlarged. Therefore, we can use the gradient electric field to control the photodetachment of negative ions near a metal surface. We hope that our results will be useful for understanding the photodetachment of negative ions in the vicinity of surfaces, cavities, and ion traps.     

Coulomb potentials and the energy-angular momentum balance in heavy ion transfer reactions

Coulomb terms in optical model parameters and in the effective interaction are discussed for DWBA in charged particle transfer in heavy ion reactions. It is shown that certain discrepancies in shapes of calculated angular distributions are due to incorrect treatment of Coulomb terms.     

Bounded solutions of neutral fermions with a screened Coulomb potential

The intrinsically relativistic problem of a fermion subject to a pseudoscalar screened Coulomb plus a uniform background potential in two-dimensional space-time is mapped into a Sturm-Liouville. This mapping gives rise to an effective Morse-like potential and exact bounded solutions are found. It is shown that the uniform background potential determinates the number of bound-state solutions. The behaviour of the eigenenergies as well as of the upper and lower components of the Dirac spinor corresponding to bounded solutions is discussed in detail and some unusual results are revealed. An apparent paradox concerning the uncertainty principle is solved by recurring to the concepts of effective mass and effective Compton wavelength.     

Photodetachment microscopy of a hydrogen negative ion in an electric field near a metal surface

According to the semi-classical theory, we study the photodetachment microscopy of H- in the electric field near a metal surface. During the photodetachment, the electron is photo-detached by a laser and the electron is drawn toward a position-sensitive detector. The electron flux distribution is measured as a function of position. Two classical paths lead the ion to any point in the classically allowed region on the detector, and waves traveling along these paths produce an interference pattern. If the metal surface perpendicular to the electric field is added, we find that the interference pattern is related not only to the electron energy and the electric-field strength, but also to the ion-surface distance. In addition, the laser polarization also has a great influence on the electron flux distribution. We present calculations predicting the interference pattern that may be seen in experiment. We hope that our study can provide a new understanding of the electron flux distribution of negative ions in an external field and surface, and can guide future experimental research on negative ion photo-detachment microscopy.     

Bound states of the exponential cosine screened Coulomb potential

A generalized virial theorem and the Hellman-Feynman theorem have been used to calculate perturbatively the energy levels, expectation values of an arbitrary power of the position coordinates and normalization of the wave function. The method gives excellent results for low values of the screening parameter (λ ? λ_c/4).