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R-matrix calculations of polarisation e�ffects in low-energy positron-molecule collisions

Zhang, R.; (2010) R-matrix calculations of polarisation e�ffects in low-energy positron-molecule collisions. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London). Green open access

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Abstract

The study of the interaction of positrons with atoms and molecules has become increasingly popular, because more and more experimental activities have become feasible. Although exchange e�ffects are absent, the polarisation effects, caused by the attractive nature between the positron and the target electrons, make the positron-molecule collisions more diffcult to handle than the corresponding electron collisions. This thesis gives the calculations of positron collisions with polar molecule H2O and non-polar molecules, H2 and C2H2 at energies below the positronium formation threshold. All calculations were carried out using the modi�ed version of the UK molecular R-matrix code. Due to the large permanent dipolar nature of water molecule, the three models tested give very similar results. However, for positron collision with non-polar molecules, the polarisation e�ffects can be very important in the calculation. The molecular R-matrix with pseudostates (MRMPS) method has been employed to analyse the positron collision with non-polar molecules, and found to lead to an excellent representation of target polarisation. C2H2 is the simplest molecule that has very enhanced annihilation parameter Zeff, which can be determined by the total scattering wavefunction. So a new sub-code was developed for calculating Zeff based on the UK R-matrix polyatomic code and employed to treat positron collisions with H atom, H2 and C2H2 molecules. It has been found that Zeff values are also sensitive to the degree of polarisation included in calculations and are greatly improved by use of the MRMPS method.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Title: R-matrix calculations of polarisation e�ffects in low-energy positron-molecule collisions
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Physics and Astronomy
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/552286
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