Stable He- can exist in a strong magnetic field

Area of Science:

• Atomic Physics
• Quantum Mechanics
• Computational Chemistry

Background:

• The helium hydride ion (He-) is a three-body system (alpha particle, two electrons).
• Investigating its stability and states in external magnetic fields is crucial for understanding atomic structure under extreme conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the conditions under which the (α, e, e, e) system forms stable bound states in a magnetic field.
• To identify the spin states and energy levels of the stable He- ion.

Main Methods:

• Variational method employed to study the bound states of the (α, e, e, e) system.
• Numerical calculations performed for various magnetic field strengths (B).

Main Results:

• The (α, e, e, e) system forms bound states for magnetic fields B≳0.13 atomic units.
• The total energy of the bound system falls below that of the (α, e, e) system, indicating stability.
• A stable He- atomic ion exists, with its ground state being a spin doublet (2⁻¹) for 0.13 a.u. ≲ B ≲ 0.74 a.u.
• For B≳0.74 a.u., the ground state transitions to a spin quartet (4⁻³).
• For 0.7 a.u. ≲ B ≲ 0.8 a.u., the He- ion exhibits two stable bound states: a spin doublet and a spin quartet.

Conclusions:

• A magnetic field stabilizes the He- atomic ion.
• The He- ion exhibits distinct spin states (doublet and quartet) that are dependent on magnetic field strength.
• The study confirms the existence of stable He- states, contributing to the understanding of few-body systems in physics.