H_3^{++}$ molecular ion in a strong magnetic field: triangular configuration

The existence of the molecular ion $H_3^{++}$ in a magnetic field in a triangular configuration is revised. Variational method with an optimization of the form of the vector potential (gauge fixing) is used. It is shown that in the range of magnetic fields $10^8 < B < 10^{11} G$ the system $(pppe)$, with protons forming an equilateral triangle perpendicular to magnetic line, has a well-pronounced minimum in the total energy. This configuration is unstable towards decays $H{-atom} + p + p$ and $H_2^+ + p$. Triangular configuration of $H_3^{++}$ complements $H_3^{++}$ in the linear configuration which exists for $B \gtrsim 10^{10} G$.Comment: RevTeX 14 pages, 9 figures, 1 table Physical Review A (accepted

A hydrogenic molecular atmosphere of a neutron star

A model of a hydrogenic content of atmosphere of the isolated neutron star 1E1207.4-5209 is proposed. It is based on the assumption that the main component in the atmosphere is the exotic molecular ion $H_3^{2+}$ and that there exists a magnetic field in the range of $(4 \pm 2) \times 10^{14}$ G. Photoionization H_3^{2+} \rar e + 3p and photodissociation H_3^{2+} \rar H + 2p correspond to two absorption features at 0.7 KeV and 1.4 KeV, respectively, discovered by {\it Chandra} observatory (Sanwal et al, 2002). The model predicts one more absorption feature at 80-150 eV corresponding to photodissociation H_3^{2+} \rar H_2^+ + p.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur