Experiments on positronium negative ions

This paper is a review of new developments in the experimental field of the efficient emission of the positronium negative ion, a bound state of one positron and two electrons, from alkali-metal coated surfaces. Following the prediction of its existence by Wheeler in 1946, this ion has been one of the most attractive subjects for theorists to investigate in the field of positron physics, resulting in a large number of studies. Though the first observation of the ions, formed using a carbon thin film, was made in 1981 by Mills, there have been few experimental works since, limited by the low-production efficiency achievable for nearly 30 years. In 2008, a dramatic effect on the ion emission from tungsten surfaces was discovered upon coating it with Cs. This has opened the door to a new era of experimental investigations of this ion. This paper reports the investigations performed so far. Advances discussed include efficient formation of the ion, its photodetachment and the production of an energy-tunable positronium beam based on the technique of the photodetachment.     

The role of positronium decoherence in positron annihilation in matter

A small difference between the energies of the para-positronium (p-Ps) and ortho-positronium (o-Ps) states suggests the possibility of the superposition of p-Ps and o-Ps during the formation of positronium (Ps) from pre-Ps, terminating its migration in the matter in a void. It is shown that such a superposition decoheres in the basis of p-Ps and o-Ps. The decoherence time scale estimated here motivates a correction in the precise analysis of the positron annihilation lifetime spectra. More generally, the superposited Ps state should contribute to the theory of the evolution of positronium in matter.     

Normal and anomalous positronium in matter

Summary An anomalously high magnetic quenching of positronium at low field (a few kG) has been revealed in certain polymeric materials. To interpret the experimental results, the existence in the same specimen of two Ps-like centres is suggested. The ?normal? Ps-like centre is characterized by hyperfine splitting smaller by a factor not greater than 2 than that of free Ps. The ?anomalous? one shows hyperfine splitting in an order of magnitude weaker than for free Ps.

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Riassunto Misure di spegnimento magnetico del positronio in alcuni polimeri hanno messo in evidenza un effetto anormalmente alto a bassi campi (alcuni kG). Per interpretare i risultati sperimentali si formula l'ipotesi dell'esistenza, nello stesso campione, di due differenti tipi di Ps. Quello ?normale? é caratterizzato da una separazione iperfine inferiore a quella del Ps libero per un fattore non superiore a 2; quello ?anomalo? ha una separazione iperfine inferiore per un ordine di grandezza a quello del Ps libero.

     

Positron annihilation study of the electronic structure of CeCu6 and LaCu6

Summary The results of a prelimianry study of the electronic structure of the heavy-fermion system CeCu₆ via the two-dimensional angular correlation of electron-positron annihilation radiation (2D ACAR) technique were compared with those obtained for the isostructural reference non-f-electron material LaCu₆. The spectra relating to the 2 compounds displayed extremely similar anisotropic structures, with features related to the symmetry of the Brillouin zone. At present, these structures cannot however be attributed to Fermi-surface or positron wave function effects or to anisotropies of some full valence band. In the case of LaCu₆, data processing prior to the LCW procedure via new filtering techniques revealed a reasonably good agreement between the LCW data and LAPW Fermi-surface calculations while in the case of CeCu₆ it appeared difficult to relate the results, still of controversial interpretation, to any theoretical model.     

Investigation of microstructure thermal evolution in nanocrystalline Cu

The microstructure of nanocrystalline Cu prepared by compacting nanoparticles (50-60 nm in diameter) under high pressures has been studied by means of positron lifetime spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. These nanoparticles were produced by two different methods. We found that there are order regions interior to the grains and disorder regions at the grain boundaries with a wide distribution of interatomic distances. The mean grain sizes of the nanocrystalline Cu samples decrease after being annealed at 900 °C and increase during aging at 180 °C, which are observed by X-ray diffraction, revealing that the atoms exchange between the two regions. The positron lifetime results clearly indicate that the vacancy clusters formed in the annealing process are unstable and decomposed at the aging time below 6 hours. In addition, the partially oxidized surfaces of the nanoparticles hinder grain growth when the samples age at 180 °C, and the vacancy clusters inside the disorder regions, which are related to Cu₂O, need longer aging time to decompose. The disorder regions remain after the heat treatment in this work, in spite of the grain growth, which will be good for the samples keeping the properties of nanocrystalline material.     

An EPR study of Ni+ centers in SrF2:Ni and BaF2:Ni

An EPR study of RT X-irradiated SrF2:Ni and BaF2:Ni has been performed. Different kinds of Ni⁺ centers showing small deviations with respect to a basic structure have been observed. This basic structure consists of a Ni⁺ ion displaced along a <100> direction from the cation substitutional position toward the center of a face of the cube of fluorines. These results are similar to those previously reported on CaF2:Ni.

The spin Hamiltonian parameters of the different centers obtained from the analysis of the corresponding rotational diagrams are also reported.     

Surface investigation of Si(1 0 0), Cu, Cu on Si(1 0 0), and Au on Cu with positron annihilation induced Auger-electron spectroscopy

The surfaces of polycrystalline Cu, Au-coated Cu, Si(1 0 0) and of Si(1 0 0) coated with 1.5 monolayer Cu were investigated with positron annihilation induced Auger-electron spectroscopy (PAES). Since the electron background has been reduced considerably we observed the Cu M_2,3VV-Auger transition on a copper surface within only three hours which is the shortest acquisition time reported so far for PAES. In order to demonstrate PAES’ high potential the Auger-yield, the signal-to-background ratio as well as the surface selectivity were compared with accompanying EAES-measurements quantitatively. A more efficient electron energy analyzer for the present PAES setup would lead to an additional efficiency gain of more than two orders of magnitude. The presented measurements were performed at the low-energy positron beam of high intensity NEPOMUC at the research reactor FRM II.     

Positron beam studies on polyaniline and Ag-coated polyaniline

The effect of doping of the polyaniline emeraldine base (PEB), with Ni as well as Ni over layer coating has been investigated using variable low energy positron beam. Depth-resolved Doppler S-parameter measurements have been performed on undoped, Ni-doped polyaniline (PANI), and Ag (40 nm) film deposited PANI samples. Significant variation in S-parameter is observed for undoped and Ni-doped PANI. The size of the free volume hole has shifted to lower values upon doping with Ni as compared to that of undoped PANI, which is consistent with the conductivity measurements. For Ag-coated PANI systems, the S vs. E_p curves show distinct changes at the surface and interior regions. These results are discussed in the light of changes in free volume hole size distribution.     

Of atomic collisions with positrons and positronium

Recent progress in the study of atomic collisions using positronic projectiles is outlined and advances which might ensue from the production of more intense positron beams are indicated. Material in this paper was contained in a lecture delivered at the Workshop on Intense Positron Beams in Europe held at UCL on the 18th and 19th September, 1995.     

Theoretical studies of antihydrogen formation in collisions between positronium atoms and antiprotons

The current state of the theoretical methods that are used in calculations of cross sections for the production of antihydrogen in collisions between antiprotons and positronium atoms is reviewed. A broad outline of available methods together with the results of recent computations are presented. The main emphasis is made on the general close-coupling approach that allows any reaction channel to be taken as the initial state of the collision system. In this way, and on account of charge-conjugation invariance, the formation of antihydrogen in collisions between antiprotons and positronium atoms becomes linked to positron-hydrogen scattering and the same computational methods can be applied to either reaction. The review gives references to recent papers on the subject.     

Correlation between ferromagnetism and defects in MgO nanocrystals studied by positron annihilation

High purity MgO nanopowders were pressed into pellets and annealed in air from 100 to 1400 °C. Variation of the microstructures was investigated by X-ray diffraction and positron annihilation spectroscopy. Annealing induces an increase in the MgO grain size from 27 to 60 nm with temperature increasing up to 1400 °C. Positron annihilation measurements reveal vacancy defects including Mg vacancies, vacancy clusters, microvoids and large pores in the grain boundary region. Rapid recovery of Mg monovacancies and vacancy clusters was observed after annealing above 1200 °C. Room temperature ferromagnetism was observed for MgO nanocrystals annealed at 100, 700, and 1000 °C. However, after 1400 °C annealing, MgO nanocrystals turn into diamagnetic. Our results suggest that the room temperature ferromagnetism in MgO nanocrystals might originate from the interfacial defects.     

Exchange interaction between orbitally degenerate ions Case of two 2 P ions

The problem of the exchange interaction between two ² P ions is studied. As a first step, from the true electrostatic hamiltonian, the symmetry and the energy of each term arising from the interaction between two orbitally degenerate ions are determined. As a second step, a phenomenological model, invariant with respect to a unitary transformation between the atomic orbital basis functions leading to the same terms as the true electrostatic perturbation, is proposed.     

Optical spectra of Cu2+ ions in synthetic beryl

Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 53, No. 5, pp. 767–770, November, 1990.     

EPR studies of Cu2+ and V4+ ions in phosphate glasses

Two lead-phosphate glass systems doped with both copper and vanadium ions in different ratios were studied by EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) method. EPR spectra and parameters (g_‖ = 2.44, g_⊥ = 2.08 andA _‖ = 117.6 · 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹) obtained for x(CuO · V₂O₅)(l−x)[2P₂O₅ · PbO] glasses withx ≤ 10 mol% suggest a tetrahedral (Td) coordination of Cu²⁺ ions and not a tetragonally elongated octahedron as has been assumed in previous works. The ground state of the paramagnetic electron is thed _xy copper orbital with a 4p_z contribution of 6%. For 20 ≤x ≤ 40 mol% a broad line (ΔB = 307 G) characteristic for clustered ions appears atg = 2.18. The V⁴⁺ ions are evidenced only in the spectra of x(CuO · 2V₂O₅)(1 −x)[2P₂O₅ · PbO] glasses and the resonance parameters suggest a pentacoordinated C_4v local symmetry for these ions. The hyperfine structures characteristic for Cu²⁺ and V⁴⁺ ions disappear for 10 ≤x ≤ 40 mol% due to the mixed exchange Cu²⁺−V⁴⁺ pair formation in these glasses.     

Production of Kr2+ in collisions of rare gas ions with Kr

Total and differential cross sections for the production of fast Kr²⁺ ions in collisions of He⁺, Ne⁺ and Ar⁺ with Kr were measured at primary energies below 500 eV. In the system Ar⁺+Kr most of these reactions occur in close collisions and are accompanied by a large momentum transfer. For Ne⁺+ Kr collisions the angular distribution in the centre of mass system is approximately isotropic over a wide angular range. The cross section values for the Kr²⁺ production amount to 1% of the total charge transfer cross section in the investigated energy range.     

A field theoretic approach to the formation of positronium negative ions in positronium-hydrogen collisions at low energy

The total cross-section, for positronium negative ions formation in positronium-hydrogen collision is calculated in a field-theoretic way for low energy positronium. In this non-relativistic region, cross-section shows a distinct structure unlike Born cross-section, as calculated byStancanelli andFerrante (Nuovo Cimento68B (1970), 137). At higher energies beyond 80 eV the field-theoretic cross-section decreases at a faster rate compared to the cross-section by the latter authors.     

Free-volume defects investigation of GeS2-Ga2S3-CsI chalcogenide glasses by positron annihilation spectroscopy

The transformation behavior of free-volume defect in (80GeS₂-20Ga₂S₃)_100-x (CsI)_x (x = 0, 5, 10, 15 mol%) chalcogenide glasses was studied by employing positron annihilation spectroscopic technique, which could reveal valuable information for in-depth understanding of nano-structural defects in glassy matrix. The results indicate that the structural changes caused by CsI additives can be adequately described by positron trapping modes determined with two-state model. The initial addition of CsI (x = 5 mol%) led to a void contraction, whereas, the void agglomeration occurred with the increase of CsI and the free-volume defects of the glasses were obviously reduced. The atomic density ρ is inversely proportional to the number of these defects. Meanwhile, the UV cut-off edge shifts toward short-wavelength with increasing of CsI. This study provides the valuable information of defects evolution in GeS₂-Ga₂S₃-CsI glasses.     

纳米Cu固体材料的X射线衍射与正电子湮没研究

 采用自悬浮-冷压法,在不同压力下制得纳米Cu固体材料并对其在不同温度和保温时间下进行退火,利用X射线衍射(XRD)和正电子湮没寿命谱(PAS)分析对材料的结构和微观缺陷进行了表征。XRD分析表明,压制而得的样品晶粒度为20 nm,低于300 ℃退火3 h后并未发现晶粒显著长大;PAS分析表明,压制后的样品缺陷主要为单空位和空位团,大空隙很少,随着退火温度的升高和退火时间的延长,单空位通过扩散结合成空位团,大空隙也在温度较高时分解为空位团,导致空位团的含量增加,而单空位和大空隙的含量降低。     

Computer calculation of positron diffusion and annihilation in atomic hydrogen

We have performed a computer-aided analysis of position behaviour in atomic hydrogen. Effect of electric, magnetic and temperature fields on the diffusion and annihilation of positrons has been studied. Electric field is varied over a wide range of 0–200 V cm⁻¹ amagat⁻¹, magnetic field over 0–30 kG while the temperature range considered is 300–10,000°K. The position decay rate decreases with electric and temperature fields but increases with magnetic fields. However, the effect of these fields is reversed on the diffusion coefficient.