A Simple Model for Positronium Formation in Positron – Hydrogen Atom Collisions

Abstract

We report calculations of total positronium Ps(1s)-formation cross section for positron scattering by ground-state atomic hydrogen in the energy range of Ps-formation threshold of 6.8 eV to 120 eV. For the description of the process of electron capture to the bound state of the projectile the Oppenheimer-Brinkman-Kramers approximation has been used. The values of the total cross section obtained from this simple quantum-mechanical model are in qualitative agreement with the experimental results.