Positronium formation in positron-helium scattering

Abstract
The positronium-formation cross sections in positron-helium scattering have been calculated with the use of a distorted-wave polarized-orbital method from the threshold to 100 eV. The results with and without the matrix elements involving the distorted target wave functions are found to differ appreciably. The results of the first Born approximation are not expected to be correct even at the incident-positron energy 100 eV. The measured values at 20 eV are found to be less than ½ of the present predicted values. The sharp rise of the formation cross section within the ore-gap region as observed by Charlton et al. has also been noticed by us. The minimum in the differential cross section has been found at all energies as in the case of hydrogen atom.