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 ⁴He₂ X 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.