Computed energy curves for modelling the dissociation of helium trimer ions

Abstract

Highly correlated calculations of the collinear, symmetric break-up of helium trimer ions are carried out using an MRD-CI expansion and over a broad range of fragment relative distances. The general features of the lower roots of Σg, Σu, Πg and Πu symmetries are analysed in relation to recent experimental findings and are found to provide an explanation for the observed behaviour of the experimental fragmentation peaks.