Three-body recombination of helium atoms at cold collision energies

Abstract Three-body recombination (TBR) of helium atoms at cold collision energies is studied using the hyperspherical adiabatic method with different realistic interaction potentials. By considering zero angular momentum J = 0 states as well as J > 0 states, we calculate the 4 He TBR rates up to about 0.1 Kelvin, and analyze the influence of modern potentials on the recombination rates. We also calculate and analyze the collision induced dissociation rates.