Comparison of classical and quantal calculations of helium three-body recombination
- Physics Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 (United States)
- Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 (United States)
- Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269 (United States)
A general method to study classical scattering in n-dimension is developed. Through classical trajectory calculations, the three-body recombination is computed as a function of the collision energy for helium atoms, as an example. Quantum calculations are also performed for the J{sup Π} = 0{sup +} symmetry of the three-body recombination rate in order to compare with the classical results, yielding good agreement for E ≳ 1 K. The classical threshold law is derived and numerically confirmed for the Newtonian three-body recombination rate. Finally, a relationship is found between the quantum and classical three-body hard hypersphere elastic cross sections which is analogous to the well-known shadow scattering in two-body collisions.
- OSTI ID:
- 22255237
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol. 140, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-9606
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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