Gamma-ray spectra in the positron-annihilation process of molecules at room temperature

In this study, a fully self-consistent method was developed to obtain the wave functions of the positron and electrons in molecules simultaneously. The wave function of a positron at room temperature, with a characteristic energy of approximately 0.04 eV [1], was used to analyse the experimental results of its annihilation in helium, neon, hydrogen, and methane molecules. The interactions between the positron and molecule provide a significant correction in the gamma-ray spectra of the annihilating electron–positron pairs. It was also observed that high-order correlations offered almost no correction in the spectra, as the interaction between the low-energy positron and electrons cannot drive the electrons into excited electronic states. More accurate studies, which consider the coupling of the positron–electron pair states and vibration states of nuclei, must be undertaken.     

Planned positron experiments at FRM-II

The new research reactor FRM-II near Munich has a strong positron source, which delivers an intense, nearly monoenergetic positron beam. Our positron systems, the pulsed low energy positron source (PLEPS) and the scanning positron microscope (SPM) will be operated at this beam. Some aspects of matching these systems to the new positron source will be discussed.Considerable improvements are expected, e.g. more than 10⁵ s⁻¹ recorded events at PLEPS and sub-micrometre resolution at SPM. They will enable investigations in so far inaccessible problems like the evaluation of annihilation characteristics and trapping constants of individual defects or studies of fast dynamical processes. In applied materials science complex defect structures will be studied which demand a resolution into many differing lifetimes, e.g. fractured specimens, wear, corrosion, etc. Also large series of measurements at small systematic modifications are planned. There is also the opportunity to analyse in addition the chemical microstructure of the specimens by means of a hydrogen microprobe and other ion beam techniques available close to FRM-II at the Technical University of Munich.     

Applications of slow positrons to cancer research: Search for selectivity of positron annihilation to skin cancer

Slow positrons and positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) have been applied to medical research in searching for positron annihilation selectivity to cancer cells. We report the results of positron lifetime and Doppler broadening energy spectroscopies in human skin samples with and without cancer as a function of positron incident energy (up to 8 μm depth) and found that the positronium annihilates at a significantly lower rate and forms at a lower probability in the samples having either basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than in the normal skin. The significant selectivity of positron annihilation to skin cancer may open a new research area of developing positron annihilation spectroscopy as a novel medical tool to detect cancer formation externally and non-invasively at the early stages.     

Design of a new type positron beam system

A new type positron beam system is being constructed in Wuhan university. The goal of this project is to build a positron beam which can measure positron lifetimes and has high moderation efficiency. The system utilizes a magnetically guided incident positron beam and the sample is biased to a high negative potential to achieve the desired implantation energies. A conventional tungsten moderator is replaced by a solid Ne moderator with high moderation efficiency (about 1%). A multi-functional target chamber for slow beam studies is designed, which can be used for positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), Doppler broadening (DB) and coincidence Doppler broadening (CDB) measurements.     

Silicide formation in Co/Si system investigated by depth-resolved positron annihilation and X-ray diffraction

The transformation of Co/Si to CoSi₂/Si in the temperature range of 300-1170 K has been investigated using depth-resolved positron annihilation and Glancing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD). The different silicide phases formed are identified from the experimental positron annihilation characteristics, which are consistent with the GIXRD results. The present study clearly indicates the absence of vacancy defects in the silicide overlayer.     

Mesoporosity in silica films studied by a slow positron beam and ellipsometry

Porous silica films were synthesized via a sol–gel method using a nonionic amphiphilic triblock copolymer F127 as the structural template. Mesoporosities of the prepared silica films were investigated by Doppler broadening of positron annihilation radiation (DBAR) spectroscopy, positron annihilation gamma-ray energy spectroscopy based on a slow positron beam, and ellipsometry. For the mesoporous silica films, the variation of positron annihilation line shape parameter reveals that the porosity of the silica films increases with loading more F127, which is also confirmed by a decrease of refractive index n. Little variation in positron 3γ-annihilation fraction is found for the silica films prepared with F127 loading less than 15 wt%, whereas a remarkable increment is seen for the films with higher loading. This indicates the pore percolation in porous silica films occurs around a loading of F127 with 15 wt%.     

LaFe1-xCuxO3的光催化性及正电子湮没研究

研究ＬａＦｅＯ３及微量掺铜ＬａＦｅＯ３的光催化活性,利用正电子湮没谱分析掺杂的影响,发现随着掺杂百分比的增加,正电子奉命逐渐下降达到一最小值,然后又上升;而光催化活性随掺杂百分比的增加逐渐上升达到最大值,然后下降,结果表明：ＬａＦｅＯ３掺杂后光催化活性得以提高;正电子湮没技术是研究点阵缺陷结构的有效方法之一。     

等离子体喷涂层的正电子湮没研究

本文用正电子湮没技术对等离子体喷涂铜基合金压缩形变的微观缺陷进行了测量。对等离子体喷涂合金，随着压缩量的增加，正电子寿命变短，这一现象与常规合金中观察到的情况相反。     

Positron annihilation in alkali-halide crystals after electron irradiation

The effect of electron beam irradiation on the positron annihilation in KCl, KBr, NaCl single crystals was investigated. The narrowing of the angular correlation curves increases up to the saturation value with the absorbed radiation dose. The shape of the received narrow components differs from the narrow component measured in the additively colored samples. This phenomenon shows the considerable influence of the hole centres upon the positron annihilation in ionic crystals. Paper presented at 3rd Internat. Conf. Positron Annihilation, Otaniemi, Finland (August 1973).     

Polymeric membrane studied using slow positron beam

A radioisotope slow positron beam has been built at the Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan for the research and development in membrane science and technology. Doppler broadening energy spectra and positron annihilation lifetime have been measured as a function of positron energy up to 30 keV in a polyamide membrane prepared by the interfacial polymerization between triethylenetetraamine (TETA) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) on modified porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) asymmetric membrane. The multilayer structures and free-volume depth profile for this asymmetric membrane system are obtained. Positron annihilation spectroscopy coupled with a slow beam could provide new information about size selectivity of transporting molecules and guidance for molecular designs in polymeric membranes.     

Relevance of slow positron beam research to astrophysical studies of positron interactions and annihilation in the interstellar medium

The processes undergone by positrons in the interstellar medium (ISM) from the moments of their birth to their annihilation are examined. Both the physics of the positron interactions with gases and solids (dust grains), and the physical conditions and characteristics of the environments where the processes of energy loss, positronium formation, and annihilation taking place, are reviewed. An explanation is given as to how all the relevant physical information are taken into account in order to calculate annihilation rates and spectra of the 511 keV emission for the various phases of the ISM; special attention is paid to positron interactions with dust and with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. An attempt is made to show to what extent the interactions between positrons and interstellar dust grains are similar to laboratory experiments in which beams of slow positrons impinge upon solids and surfaces. Sample results are shown for the effect of dust grains on positron annihilation spectra in some phases of the ISM which, together with high resolution spectra measured by satellites, can be used to infer useful knowledge about the environment where the annihilation is predominantly taking place and ultimately about the birth place and history of positrons in the Galaxy. The important complementarity between work done by the astrophysical and the solid-state positron communities is strongly emphasized and specific experimental work is suggested which could assist the modeling of the interaction and annihilation of positrons in the ISM.     

On positron annihilation in zinc

The purpose of this work is to understand Mogensen's and Petersen's positron annihilation curves for zinc. Mijnarends' approach is used as an auxiliary method of localizing inhomogeneities of the electronic density in momentum space, as defined in the paper. Evidence is found for a new effect consisting of a strong enhancement of the annihilation probability in the lenses obtained by the intersection of the Fermi surface with HMC surfaces. This effect, not the anisotropy of the Fermi surface, is the main reason for the anisotropy of the annihilation curves. Paper presented at 3rd Internat'l Conf. Positron Annihilation, Otaniemi, Finland (August 1973).     

Free-volume changes at nanoscale in doped polyacrylic acid studied by positron annihilation spectroscopy

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) doped with carbon black (CB), chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) and cupferron with different wt% (0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1%) was studied using positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) technique and Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation (DBAR). Ortho-positronium lifetime components (τ₃ and I₃) were used to estimate the nanoscale free-volume hole sizes (V_f) and its fractions (f). It was found that the hole size V_f and its fractions f as well as S-parameters decreased at high value of doping concentration due to dopants-polymer formation. These results are supported by a significant narrowing in the nanoscale free-volume hole size distributions.

The correlation between positron annihilation parameters and electric conductivity are discussed.     

Positron trapping at quantum-dot-like particles on metal surfaces

Measurements of the positron annihilation-induced Auger electron (PAES) spectra from the Fe-Cu alloy surfaces with quantum-dot-like Cu nanoparticles embedded in Fe reveal a decrease of the Fe M_2,3VV positron annihilation-induced Auger signal intensity and an enhancement of the Cu one for surfaces created by enriching the Cu content of the Fe-Cu alloy. These experimental results are analyzed by performing calculations of positron surface states and annihilation characteristics at the Fe(1 0 0) surface with quantum-dot-like Cu nanoparticles embedded in the top atomic layers of the host substrate. Estimates of the positron binding energy and annihilation characteristics reveal their strong sensitivity to the nanoparticle coverage. Theoretical core annihilation probabilities are compared with experimental ones estimated from the measured Auger peak intensities. The observed behavior of the Fe and Cu PAES signal intensities is explained by theoretical calculations as being due to trapping of positrons in the regions of Cu nanoparticles embedded in the top atomic layers of Fe.     

Oxidation and thermal reduction of the Cu(1 0 0) surface as studied using positron annihilation induced Auger electron spectroscopy (PAES)

Changes in the surface of an oxidized Cu(1 0 0) single crystal resulting from vacuum annealing have been investigated using positron annihilation induced Auger electron spectroscopy (PAES). PAES measurements show a large increase in the intensity of the annihilation induced Cu M_2,3VV Auger peak as the sample is subjected to a series of isochronal anneals in vacuum up to annealing temperature 300 °C. The intensity then decreases monotonically as the annealing temperature is increased to ∼600 °C. Experimental probabilities of annihilation of surface-trapped positrons with Cu 3p and O 1s core-level electrons are estimated from the measured intensities of the positron annihilation induced Cu M_2,3VV and O KLL Auger transitions. Experimental PAES results are analyzed by performing calculations of positron surface states and annihilation probabilities of surface-trapped positrons with relevant core electrons taking into account the charge redistribution at the surface, surface reconstructions, and electron-positron correlations effects. The effects of oxygen adsorption on localization of positron surface state wave function and annihilation characteristics are also analyzed. Possible explanation is proposed for the observed behavior of the intensity of positron annihilation induced Cu M_2,3VV and O KLL Auger peaks and probabilities of annihilation of surface-trapped positrons with Cu 3p and O 1s core-level electrons with changes of the annealing temperature.     

Positron annihilation probing of crystallization effects in TAS-235 glass affected by Ga additions

Crystallization effects in Te₂₀As₃₀Se₅₀ glass known also as TAS-235 affected by Ga additions to Ga₂Te₂₀As₂₈Se₅₀ and Ga₅Te₂₀As₂₅Se₅₀ compositions are probed with positron annihilation spectroscopy in the measuring modes exploring positron lifetimes and Doppler broadening of annihilation line. Occurring of cubic-phase Ga₂Se₃ droplets with character nanoscale sizes in partially-crystallized Ga₂Te₂₀As₂₈Se₅₀ alloy is shown to be associated with agglomeration of intrinsic free-volume voids, this process being enhanced over microcrystalline scale in Ga₅Te₂₀As₂₅Se₅₀ alloy. Crystallization changes in the void structure of TAS-235 glass are considered in terms of free-volume evolution under the same principal chemical environment responsible for positron trapping in amorphous and partially crystallized substances.     

Electrical properties of MOS structures on nitrogen-doped Czochralski-grown silicon: A positron annihilation study

Measurements of interface trap density, effective generation lifetime (GL) and effective surface generation velocity have been performed using different methods on selected MOS structures prepared on nitrogen-doped Czochralski-grown (NCz) silicon. The application of the positron annihilation technique using a pulsed low energy positron system (PLEPS) focused on the detection of nitrogen-related defects in NCz silicon in the near surface region. In the case of p-type Cz silicon, all the results could be used for the testing of homogeneity. In n-type Cz silicon, positron annihilation was found insensitive to nitrogen doping.     

碳同素异形体中的正电子理论

在密度函数理论的基础上,采用中性原子叠加模型和有限差分方法(SNA-FD)计算了石墨,金刚石和C60这三种碳的同素异形体中的正电子分布和湮没情况. 计算表明,在片层结构的石墨晶体中,正电子主要在石墨层间的空隙中湮没,计算出的石墨中的正电子寿命为208ps,与文献中的实验结果210ps符合很好. 在金刚石单晶中,正电子主要在碳原子之间的空隙中存在并发生湮没,计算出的金刚石中的正电子寿命为1159ps,与文献中的实验结果110ps相符合;在面心立方结构的C60晶体中,正电子主要在C60分子球壳内外侧及分子之 关键词： 石墨 金刚石 C60 正电子寿命     

Positron annihilation studies of mesoporous silica films using a slow positron beam

Positron annihilation lifetime spectra were measured for mesoporous silica films, which were synthesized using triblock copolymer (EO₁₀₆PO₇₀EO₁₀₆) as a structure-directing agent. Different positron lifetime spectra for the deposited and calcined films indicated the formation of meso-structure after calcination, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) observation. Open porosity or pore interconnectivity of a silica film might be evaluated by a two-dimensional positron annihilation lifetime spectrum of an uncapped film. Pore sizes and their distributions in the silica films were found to be affected by thermal treatments.     

Study of the effect of annealing on defects in Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni-C alloy by slow positron beam

FeMnSi shape memory alloys (SMAs) have received much attention as one-way SMAs due to their cost-effectiveness. Variable-energy (0-30 keV) positron beam studies have been carried out on a Fe-Mn-Si-Cr-Ni-C alloy with different degrees of deformation. Doppler broadening profiles of the positron annihilation as a function of incident positron energy were shown to be quite sensitive to defects introduced by deformation. The variation of the nature and the concentration of defects are studied as a function of isochronal annealing temperature. These results are correlated with the data measured with the positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The positron annihilation results are compared to XRD and optical microscopy (OM).