ar X iv : p hy si cs / 0 41 21 45 v 2 1 1 M ar 2 00 5 Capture of slow antiprotons by helium atoms

Abstract A consistent quantum mechanical calculation of partial cross sections leading to different final states of antiprotonic helium atom was performed. For the four-body scattering wave function, corresponding to the initial state, as well as for the antiprotonic helium wave function, appearing in the final state, adiabatic approximations were used. Further, symmetric and non-symmetric effective charge (SEC, NEC) approximations were introduced for the two-electron wave functions in the field of the two fixed charges of the He nucleus and the antiproton. Calculations were carried out for a wide range of antiprotonic helium states and incident energies of the antiproton below the first ionization threshold of the He atom. The origin of the rich low-energy structure of certain cross sections is discussed in detail.