We briefly review some of the recent developments in the application of the convergent close-coupling (CCC) theory to collisions in atomic and molecular physics. This theory has solved the key complexities of computationally managing the countably infinite discrete states and the uncountably infinite continuum. Among the most recent breakthroughs are the antihydrogen formation, heavy projectiles scattering and electron/positron scattering on the molecular hydrogen.

Igor Bray obtained his PhD in the Department of Mathematical Physics at the University of Adelaide in 1986, which was entitled “Gravitational Lens Effect of Galaxies and Black Holes”. He then moved to Flinders University and switched fields to atomic and molecular collision theory. He moved to Murdoch University in 2001, and has been at Curtin University since 2007, where he has been Head of Physics and Astronomy since 2010. He has been the beneficiary of the ARC Fellowship scheme from 1992 through to 2015, and the Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Antimatter-Matter studies from 2007 to 2013. He has published around 450 papers attracting over 10,000 citations.

Theoretical Physics @ANU is a new cross-campus seminar series to cover recent important developments in the area.

Convenors: Vladimir Bazhanov & Anatoli Kheifets (RSPE)

Advisory Board:  Geoff Bicknell (RSAA), Denis Evans (RSPE), Peter Gill (RSC), Andy Hogg (RSES), Stephen Hyde (RSPE), Cedric Simenel (RSPE), Susan Scott (RSPE), Andrei Sukhorukov (RSPE), Bai-Ling (Brian) Wang (MSI)