Unified treatment of positron annihilation and positronium formation

The effects of the positron (e(+)) annihilation in e(+) scattering by the H atom are included directly in the Hamiltonian as an absorption potential, and hence the finite lifetimes Gamma(ns) of positronium (Ps) in states ns are automatically taken account of. The Schr?dinger equation is solved using the hyperspherical close-coupling method. The annihilation and Ps formation are shown to be inseparable near the Ps(1s) threshold E(th); Ps formation constitutes just an indirect pathway to annihilation. The annihilation cross section, which would diverge near E(th) if Gamma(1s) were infinite, connects smoothly across E(th) to the cross section for Ps formation, which is meaningful only at energies well above E(th).     

Positronium Formation in e^＋-K Collision at Low Energies

Positronium (Ps) formation cross section for positron scattering on potassium is calculated at low impact energies (0.2-15.0eV). The present calculation uses an optical-model method with an equivalent local polarization potential. The results for the Ps (n = 1) and Ps (n = 2) formation cross sections are calculated and compared with the experimental measurements and other theoretical results.     

Measurements of positronium formation cross sections for positron-ar and-K scattering

We have made preliminary measurements of positronium (Ps) formation cross sections for 9 to 452 eV positrons scattered from Ar atoms and for 1 to 20 eV positrons scattered from K atoms. Our experimental approach involves setting lower and upper limits on Ps formation cross sections using a combination of (1) the detection of the coincidences of 511 keV annihilation gamma rays produced by the decay of para-Ps and by the interaction of ortho-Ps with the wall of the scattering cell in which the Ps is formed, and (2) the determination of scattering cross sections associated with the measured transmission of the positron beam through the gas in our scattering cell with the angular discrimination of our apparatus deliberately made as poor as possible. The constraints placed by these lower and upper limits are used to check for consistency with prior experimental and theoretical results for Ar and to provide the first measurements of Ps formation cross sections for K, which are compared with available theoretical results.     

Cross-channel coupling in positron-atom scattering

Coupled-state calculations including positronium channels are reported for positron scattering by atomic hydrogen, lithium and sodium. Integrated cross sections and total cross sections are presented for all three atoms. For lithium differential cross sections are also given. Throughout, comparison is made between results calculated with and without inclusion of the positronium channels. S-wave cross sections for positron scattering by atomic hydrogen in the Ps(1s, 2s, 2p)+H(1s, 2s, 2p) approximation show the high energy resonance first observed by Higgins and Burke in the coupled-static approximation. This resonance has now moved up to 51.05 eV and narrowed in width to 2.92 eV. Other pronounced structure is seen in the S-wave cross sections between 10 and 20 eV; it is tentatively suggested that this structure may be due to the formation of a temporary pseudo-molecular collision complex. Results calculated in the Ps(1s, 2s, , 2p, ,+H(1s, 2s, , 2p, approximation show convergence towards accurate values in the energy region below and in the Ore gap. Contrary to previous work on lithium using only an atomic basis, it is found that coupling to the 3d state of lithium is not so important when positronium channels are included; this is because a mixed basis of atom and positronium states gives a more rapidly convergent approximation than an expansion based on atom states alone. The threshold behaviour of the elastic cross section and the Ps(1s) formation cross section for lithium is investigated. Results in the Ps(1s, 2s, 2p)+Na(3s, 3p) approximation for sodium show good agreement with the total cross section measurements of Kwan et al.     

Calculation of transport cross sections for positrons in solid targets via improved expressions

Transport cross sections (TCS) for positron impinging on a number of selected atomic targets have been calculated in the energy range 1–4 keV. The calculations were performed by using a simplified correction of the approximate analytical expression of transport cross sections reported by Jablonski [A. Jablonski, Phys. Rev. B 58 (1998) 16470]. An argued parameter–obtained from both an exponential and polynomial fits–was then introduced. The agreement generally observed between our results and those previously reported in the literature is quite good, especially for positron energies greater than 2 keV. Furthermore, an attempt has been made for scaling the TCS with the atomic number of solid targets of interest. Such a scaling was found to be possible for both exponential and third order polynomial fits. The information gathered by the present study may be useful for the evaluation of parameters needed for quantitative low-energy positron annihilation spectroscopy.     

Multichannel scattering and annihilation in the positron hydrogen system

A problem to account for the direct electron-positron annihilation in positron-hydrogen scattering above the positronium formation threshold has been resolved within the time independent formalism. On the basis of the generalized optical theorem, the annihilation cross section is fully determined by scattering amplitudes. This allows to perform the analytic separation of the contribution of the positronium formation effect from the overall annihilation cross section. The rest determines the direct annihilation cross section.     

Depth-dependent positronium formation in γ-irradiated polymers after 30-month aging

Depth-dependent positronium (Ps) formation and annihilation study of Co-60 γ-irradiated polyethylene and polytetrafluorethylene were performed. After 30-month aging, no free radicals effect on Ps formation was detected for the studied polymers. Efficient trapping of back-diffusion positrons was observed in heavily irradiated samples, where Ps formation probability near polymer surface and in the bulk turns to be equivalent to each other. Results shown that positron annihilation Doppler broadening in polytetrafluorethylene is prevailingly influenced by high momentum electrons of fluorine atoms instead of Ps intensity.     

Near-threshold positron-hydrogen ionization

Ionization of hydrogen by positron impact near the breakup threshold is considered. The two-centre convergent close-coupling method is used. We find that convergence in the cross section is only practically obtained if two near-complete expansions are used, one centred around H and the other around Ps. The contribution to the breakup cross section becomes the same for both centres as the threshold is approached. The calculations are found to be in good agreement with the threshold law predicted by Ihra et al. (1997) Phys Rev Lett 78:4027.     

Coupled-channel calculations of positron-atom scattering at intermediate energies

We present the cross sections for positron collisions with the alkali atoms Li, Na and K in the close-coupling approximation within the framework of a single-active-electron model. Our target basis sets are represented by Li(2s, 3s, 2p, 3p), Na(3s, 4s, 3p, 4p), and K(4s, 5s, 4p, 5p) respectively. The effects of coupling to the lowest lying Ps channels have been investigated by augmenting the target basis sets with the Ps(1s, 2s, 2p) eigenstates. The calculations have been made for impact energies below 50 eV. The interaction between the positron and the alkali target atom is represented by a model potential obtained using a single-active-electron approximation. The effect on elastic scattering and excitation due to the coupling between the direct and the Ps formation channels is found to be of great significance at low impact energies. The case of K is of particular interest. The inclusion of the Ps channels quantitatively reproduces the maximum in the total cross section at about 6 eV as reported in a recent experiment by Parikh et al. We find that the calculated total cross sections for Na and K are in good agreement with the experimental data of Parikh et al. and Kwan et al. respectively in the energy range of 2–50 eV provided allowance is made for the incomplete elastic discrimination in the experiment. The Ps formation reduces the K(4s4p) cross section at all energies below 30 eV and a reduction is also seen in the elastic cross section for energies below about 7 eV. Similar effects are observed in the case of Li. In the case of Na for impact energies between 2 and 20 eV Ps formation significantly reduces the Na(3s3p) excitation cross section, while the elastic scattering cross section increases. The calculated total Ps formation cross sections for Na and K are in good agreement with the preliminary experimental data of Kwan, Stein and co-workers.     

Defects in electron irradiated amorphous SiO2 probed by positron annihilation

Defects in 3-MeV electron irradiated amorphous (a-) SiO₂ were studied by the positron annihilation technique. A high formation probability of positronium (Ps) was found for un-irradiated a-SiO₂ specimens. These Ps atoms were considered to be trapped by vacancy-type defects. The formation probability of Ps was drastically decreased by the electron irradiation. This fact can be attributed to an introduction of vacancy-type defects such as oxygen vacancies by the electron irradiation and a resultant trapping of positrons by such defects.     

Positronium formation for positron scattering from metastable hydrogen

Positronium(Ps) formation for positron impact on metastable hydrogen in 2s state has been studied by using the twochannel, two-center eikonal final state-continuum initial distorted wave(EFS-CDW) method. The differential, integrated,and total cross sections for Ps formation in different states have been calculated from each channel opening thresholds to high energy region. The results are compared with other theoretical calculations available in the literature. For Ps formation in s-state at intermediate and high energies, our results are in good agreement with the prediction of distorted wave theory.Those formed in p-states and the total Ps formation cross sections are reported for the first time. It is shown that the total Ps formation cross sections for positron scattering from H(2s) state are significantly larger at relatively low energies, while smaller at high energies, compared with those obtained from hydrogen in ground state.     

8—9.5 keV正电子致Ti的K壳层电离截面的实验研究

低能正电子碰撞原子内壳层电离截面的实验数据目前还很缺乏,从而影响了对近年来发展的各相关理论模型的检验,限制了慢正电子束流技术在诸多领域中的应用.本文采用慢正电子束流装置产生的8—9.5 keV正电子束碰撞纯厚Ti靶,利用硅漂移探测器(SDD)收集正电子碰撞Ti靶产生的X射线,同时采用高纯锗探测器在线获得与靶碰撞的入射正电子数,从而得到Ti的K壳层实验产额,并基于蒙特卡罗模拟程序PENELOPE获得模拟产额.将实验产额分别与内壳层电离截面数据库采用经典光学数据模型(ODM)和扭曲波玻恩近似理论模型(DWBA)的蒙特卡罗模拟产额进行对比,发现基于ODM理论模型的模拟产额与实验值有较大的偏差,基于DWBA理论模型的模拟产额与实验结果符合较好.根据实验产额和基于DWBA理论模型的模拟产额的比较结果,对蒙特卡罗模拟程序使用的DWBA理论模型数据库进行修正后再进行模拟和比较,从而得到可靠的8—9.5 keV正电子致Ti原子K壳层电离截面数据.     

Measuring the P-odd pion-nucleon coupling h((1))(piNN) in pi(+)-photoproton production near threshold

We show that gamma-->p-->pi(+)n in the threshold region is an excellent candidate for measuring the leading parity-violating pion-nucleon coupling h((1))(piNN) to an uncertainty of 20% if it has a natural size from dimensional analysis. The conclusion is based on a large unpolarized cross section, a new low-energy theorem for the photon polarization asymmetry at the threshold A(gamma)/(th) = square root of 2 f(pi)(mu(p)-mu(n))h((1))(piNN)/g(A)m(N) approximately h((1))(piNN)/2, and its strong dominance at forward and backward angles in the threshold region.     

Results of the Bielefeld-Brookhaven e+-H experiment

Positronium formation (Ps) cross sections for positrons impinging on atomic hydrogen were measured in the impact energy range from 13 to 255 eV at the High Intensity Positron (HIP) beam at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). The Ps-formation cross section was found to rise rapidly from the threshold at 6.8 eV to a maximum value of (2.98±0.18) ×10^–16 cm² for 15 eV positrons. By 75 eV it drops below the detection limit of 0.17×10^–16 cm² which is the present level of statistical uncertainty. A more elaborate data analysis was performed leading to somewhat smaller cross sections than originally published [1]. During the course of this experiment further relative data on impact-ionization cross sections were accumulated.     

Experiments with a high-density positronium gas

We have created a high-density gas of interacting positronium (Ps) atoms by irradiating a thin film of nanoporous silica with intense positron bursts and measured the Ps lifetime using a new single-shot technique. When the positrons were compressed to 3.3 x 10(10) cm-2, the apparent intensity of the orthopositronium lifetime component was found to decrease by 33%. We believe this is due to a combination of spin exchange quenching and PS2 molecule formation associated with colliding pairs of oppositely polarized triplet positronium atoms. Our data imply an effective cross section for this process of 2.9 x 10(-14) cm-2.     

Positronium formation in Debye plasma

Positronium (Ps) formation during positron-hydrogen collisions in Debye plasma has been studied in detail by using the second-order distorted-wave approximation with the inclusion of the adiabatic dipole polarization potential. Reliable results have been reported at several incident positron energies in the range from the Ps formation threshold to 500 eV for different values of the Debye screening parameter μ. Resonances for S-, P- and D-wave partial Ps formation cross sections appear to exist for 0.03 ≤ μ ≤ 0.3. Interesting structures in the differential cross sections are displayed in the surface plots. It is reported here for the first time that there is a huge probability of Ps formation in dense plasma corresponding to Debye screening parameter μ ≥ 0.3.     

Experimental evidence for spin-orbit interactions in positronium-Xe collisions

Spin-orbit interaction of positronium (Ps) with the surrounding atoms, predicted by Mitroy and Novikov [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 183202 (2003)], has been detected experimentally. We have found that the lifetime of the magnetically unperturbed ortho-Ps in Xe gas of 1 atm decreases significantly when a magnetic field of 1.0 T is applied. This decrease is attributed to the Ps spin conversion caused by spin-orbit interaction during Ps-Xe collision. The annihilation cross section of ortho-Ps due to this interaction has been determined to be 3 times as large as that expected by Mitroy and Novikov.     

Annihilating cold dark matter

Structure formation with cold dark matter (CDM) predicts halos with a central density cusp, which are observationally disfavored. If CDM particles have an annihilation cross section sigmav approximately 10(-29)(m/GeV) cm(2), then annihilations will soften the cusps. We discuss plausible scenarios for avoiding the early Universe annihilation catastrophe that could result from such a large cross section. The predicted scaling of core density with halo mass depends upon the velocity dependence of sigmav, and s-wave annihilation leads to a core density nearly independent of halo mass, which seems consistent with observations.     

Spin-orbit quenching of positronium during atomic collisions

When positrons are injected into a gas, 75% of the positronium (Ps) is likely to be formed as long-lived ortho-Ps. The main decay mechanisms for the ortho-Ps have been assumed to be natural decay of ortho-Ps and pickoff annihilation of the positron during Ps-atom collisions. A third possibility for annihilation is ortho-Ps-->para-Ps conversion due to the spin-orbit interaction between the atom and colliding Ps. This extra quenching mechanism may explain a number of phenomena observed in the annihilation spectrum of Kr and Xe, including the very small Ps fraction of 3% seen for Xe.