https://doi.org/10.1007/s100530170173
Accurate calculation of the scattering length for the cooling of hydrogen atoms by lithium atoms
1
Laboratoire de Physique Quantique (UMR 5626 du CNRS) , IRSAMC,
université Paul Sabatier,
118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
2
Department of Physics, The University of Newcastle upon Tyne,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
Corresponding author: a gadea@irsamc.ups-tlse.fr
Received:
30
April
2001
Published online: 15 August 2001
An improved ab initio calculation has been performed for the potential
for the LiH a 
state, using two very large basis sets. The Basis Set
Superposition Error (BSSE)
correction has been determined for both basis sets and the
non-Born-Oppenheimer correction estimated to be negligible. The best
potential is approximately 10% deeper than the previous
estimate. Vibrational energies and scattering lengths have been
calculated for 
LiH(D) with both potentials, with and without the BSSE correction,
and also with an estimated potential expected to bracket the true
potential. The 7LiH scattering length is estimated to be (45 ±
4)a0 and hence the low-energy cross-section in the best a
potential is about half that calculated previously. Enhanced cooling
by 7Li of trapped H atoms remains feasible.
PACS: 34.20.Cf – Interatomic potentials and forces / 34.50.-s – Scattering of atoms and molecules
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2001
