The scattering of low energy positrons by helium

Kohn's variational method is used to calculate the positron-helium scattering length and low energy S-wave phase shifts for a quite realistic Hylleraas type of helium function containing an electron-electron correlation term. The zero energy wavefunction is used to calculate the value of the annihilation rate parameter Z sub eff. All the results are significantly different from those for Drachman's helium model B, but are in better agreement with the available experimental data.