The knowledge of scattering parameters for positronium–lithium-ion scattering is required when the positronium atom is used as a probe to study the surface properties of ionic crystals. Elastic para-para (ortho-ortho) and excitation (spin-flip) processes are studied using the first-order Born approximation. Two wave functions are used to find their relative importance for the elastic processes. The differential and total cross sections for all the processes are reported at intermediate energies.

• Received 19 July 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.46.2558