Positron-electron correlation-polarization potentials for the calculation of positron collisions with atoms and molecules*

Abstract

Abstract: We present correlation-polarization potentials for the calculation of scattering cross sections of positrons with atoms and molecules. The potentials are constructed from a short-range correlation term and a long-range polarization term. For the short-range correlation term we present four different potentials that are derived from multi-component density functionals. For the long-range polarization term we employ a multi-term expansion. Quantum scattering calculations are presented for low energy collisions of positrons with two atomic targets (argon and krypton) and two molecular targets (nitrogen and methane). For collision energies below the threshold for Positronium formation our calculations of scattering cross sections are in good agreement with recent data sets from experiments and theory. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]