An improved theoretical value for Zsub(eff) for low-energy positron-hydrogen-molecule scattering

The value of Zsub(eff), the effective number of electrons per molecule available to the positron for annihilation, is calculated for low-energy positron-hydrogen-molecule scattering using a scattering wavefunction containing terms in which the positron-electron distance is included linearly as a factor. The results at very low energy are much closer to the experimental value than any that have been obtained previously. (author)