CORRELATED SCATTERING STATES OF N-BODY COULOMB-SYSTEMS

For N charged particles of equal masses moving in the field of a heavy residual charge, an approximate analytical solution of the many-body time-independent Schrodinger equation is derived al a total energy abo ve the complete fragmentation threshold. All continuum panicles are tr eated on equal footing. The proposed correlated wave function represen ts, to leading order, an exact solution of the many-body Schrodinger e quation in the asymptotic region defined by large interparticle separa tions. Thus, in this asymptotic region the N-body Coulomb modification s to the plane-wave motion of free particles are rigorously estimated. It is shown that the Kato cusp conditions are satisfied by the derive d wave function at all two-body coalescence points. An expression of t he normalization of this wave function is also given. To render possib le the calculations of scattering amplitudes for transitions leading t o a four-body scattering state, an effective-charge method is suggeste d in which the correlations between the continuum particles are comple tely subsumed into effective interactions with the residual charge. An alytical expressions for these effective interactions are derived and discussed for physical situations.