Accurate multichannel continuum states by a general configuration interaction expansion in aB-spline basis: application to He photoionization

We report theoretical calculations of the total and partial cross section and asymmetry parameter for He photoionization up to the N = 3 threshold. Multichannel continuum wavefunctions are obtained via a least squares solution of the Schrödinger equation employing a basis set expansion based on a primitive B-spline radial basis and a general configuration interaction form. This allows use of a mixed full CI and close-coupling expansion in a completely general approach to improve correlation description in the continuum channels. The present algorithm correctly describes the full range of phenomena encountered with full details and a remarkable accuracy both on non-resonant cross sections and resonance structures. An accuracy of better than 0.001 Mb is estimated both on total and partial cross sections, also Fano resonance parameters compare very well with the best methods available based on Hylleraas type wavefunctions and complex coordinate rotation.