Close-Coupling Symmetrized Variational Continuum Distorted-Wave Theory:Electron Capture to Excited States inp-H Collisions

We present the first results of an ab initio coupled-channel calculation of electron capture to the n0ex0ex=0ex0ex2 states of hydrogen in proton-hydrogen collisions using symmetrized variational (SV) continuum distorted-wave (CDW) theory. In SVCDW theory the collision ansatz includes both outgoing- and incoming-wave components in the wave functions, and represents in a compact and elegant form a very complete basis set for describing the electron capture process. We calculate total cross sections for nonresonant capture to the $2s$ and $2p$ states of the projectile, in the energy range 7--150 keV. The results are a substantial improvement over a previous variational CDW theory, and in particular are found to be in good accord with the available experimental data.