Three-potential formalism for the atomic three-body problem

Abstract

Based on a three-potential formalism we propose mathematically well-behaved Faddeev-type integral equations for the atomic three-body problem and descibe their solutions in Coulomb-Sturmian space representation. Although the system contains only long-range Coulomb interactions these equations allow us to reach solution by approximating only some auxiliary short-range type potentials. We outline the method for bound states and demonstrate its power in benchmark calculations. We can report a fast convergence in angular momentum channels.Comment: considerably revised, 9 pages, revtex, 1 ps figur