Dissociative recombination of antiprotonic atomcules (p)over-bar-He+ with positronium: towards antihydrogen synthesis?

We investigate the reactive association of metastable antiprotonic helium 'atomcules' ([(p) over bar He+](nt)) with positronium(Ps). In the framework of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, we further discuss the evolution and stability of the intermediate complex (alpha, (p) over bar, e(+), 2e(-)) using a classical trajectory approach for treating the nuclei (alpha, (p) over bar) We predict two possible channels for the atomcule-Ps reaction depending upon the atomcule principal quantum number n : II greater than or equal to 38 states dissociate to (H) over bar, whereas, it < 38 states form a new class of metastable atomcules, which could be confirmed by laser spectroscopy. The present work illustrates the pertinence of simple chemical physics concepts to the study of exotic processes involving antimatter.