Differential study of proton-helium collisions at intermediate energies: Elastic scattering, excitation, and electron capture

In a series of papers we present a comprehensive investigation of the four-body proton-helium differential scattering problem using the two-center wave-packet convergent close-coupling approach in the intermediate energy region where coupling between various channels is important. The approach uses correlated two-electron wave functions for the helium target. For comparison, a recently developed method that reduces the target to an effective single-electron system is also used. In this paper we present calculations of angular differential cross sections for elastic-scattering, target excitation, and electron-capture processes. The results of the two-electron and effective single-electron methods exhibit a good level of agreement. They also agree well with available experimental data. It is concluded that both versions of the wave-packet convergent close-coupling approach are capable of providing a realistic differential picture of all interdependent and interconnected binary processes taking place in proton-helium collisions at intermediate energies.