Positronium annihilation in silica aerogel studied by a positron age-momentum correlation technique

A high-performance positron age-momentum correlation (AMOC) spectrometer was newly developed.The counting rate is increased up to 200 cps much larger than the value 20 cps reported by other international groups.And at the same time,the time resolution still keeps at the international level of 220 ps.Furthermore,positronium (Ps) annihilation in silica aerogel was investigated by AMOC,which indicates:(1) Ps annihilation between the grains dominantly undergoes pick-off process and spin conversion from o-Ps to p-Ps;(2) Annealing below 400 ℃ changes the grain surface conditions,i.e.the desorption of hydrogen and the decrease of the defect centers concentration.     

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.     

Improved Measurement of γ-Energy from Parapositronium 2γ-Decay

Using a silica aerogel sample with oxygen gas filled as the positronium(Ps)source and a time selecting energy spectrometer,the measurement of the y-energy of parapositronium(p-Ps)2y-decay is further improved and the result of hv=510995. 34±0.69eV is obtained by a slithering comparison with the precisely known y-energies of ¹⁹²Ir.The rest mass of a pair of positron and electron is determined by the correction with the binding energy of Ps,which shows a mass equality within 1.4ppm between positron and electron by the comparison with the rest mass of electron.     

Positron annihilation in synthetic zeolites

Both lifetime and angular correlation of positron annihilation have been measured for a series of synthetic zeolites for which the void structures are known fairly well. All of the zeolites had long lifetime components and a narrow momentum component which are ascribable to o-Ps and p-Ps annihilations in the voids, respectively. The correlation between the width of the p-Ps narrow component and the size of the largest voids showed a remarkable agreement with a theoretical estimate based on the spherical potential well model. The measurement of p-Ps momentum thus appears to be prospective as a tool to determine the size of voids of materials. The lifetime of the long lifetime component, on the other hand, showed a poor correlation with the void size even from a qualitative viewpoint, suggesting that factors other than the simple void size effect are dominant in determining the o-Ps lifetimes. Discussion is made on the cause of the different dependences of o-Ps and p-Ps annihilation parameters on the void size. It has also been found that p-Ps fraction is always larger than one third of the o-Ps fraction in all the zeolites studied. A discussion is presented on this point, too.Formerly, RIISOM     

The formation of positronium in molecular substances

The theories regarding the formation of positronium in molecular substances are discussed. A modified theory based upon the “spur” theory is described. Theoretical derivation and experimental results suggest that the fraction of the long lifetime component due too-positronium annihilation has a complex origin. Initially, the electron of the positron-electron pair is likely to be separated from the positron by medium molecules even when the total kinetic energy of the pair is less than the potential energy between them. The formation of positronium depends on the mobilities of the positron and electron, the slowing down process and the potential energy between them. Positronium is formed in less than 10 ps. Then the positronium produced may react with the radicals created in the “spur” due to the positron. Only the fraction ofo-positronium able to escape the “spur” will have a long lifetime. Therefore, positronium formation is highly related to the fast reactions in the “spur” during the first 100 ps.     

The Analysis of 3γ/2γ in the Measurement of Positron Annihilation Doppler-broadening Spectroscopy

Doppler-broadening slow positron annihilation spectroscopy is used to measure the concentration, spatial distribution, and size of open-volume defects in surface and interface of material. In this method, the quantitative evaluation is generally carried out with the line shape parameter S and W, but sometimes the parameters provide some finite information. For example, if positron and electron form positronium (include o-Ps and p-Ps) in material, the parameters S and W may provide little information about positronium even complicate the analyses. A parameter I_3γ, defined as o-Ps self-decay intensity, was used to analyze Ag layer capped and non-capped silica aerogel by slow positron annihilation Doppler -broadening spectroscopy. The result shows that I_3γ can provide more information for researching mesoporous material and nanometer film.     

Determination of the positron diffusion length in Kapton by analysing the positronium emission

Doppler profile spectroscopy and Compton-to-peak ratio analysis have been used to study the positronium (Ps) emission from the Kapton surface as a function of the positron implantation energy E.Two different positions for the sample have been performed in the experiment.In the first case the sample and the Ge-detector are perpendicular to the positron beam. With this geometry the emission of para-positronium (p-Ps) is detected as a narrow central peak.In the second case, by rotating the sample 45° with respect to the beam axis, the emission of p-Ps is detected as a blue-shifted fly away peak. The implantation of the positrons is described by the Makhov profile, where we used the modified median implantation for polymers as given by Algers et al. [J. Algers, P. Sperr, W. Egger, G. Kögel, F.H.J. Maurer, Phys. Rev. B 67 (2003) 125404].Thermalised positrons can diffuse to the surface and may pick up an electron to be emitted as Ps. We found a thermal and or epithermal positron diffusion length L₊ = 5.43 ± 0.71 nm and L₊ = 5.51 ± 0.28 nm correspondingly for both cases, which is much more than the one found by Brusa et al. [R.S. Brusa, A. Dupasquier, E. Galvanetto, A. Zecca, Appl. Phys. A 54 (1992) 233]. The respective efficiency for the emission of Ps by picking up an electron from the surface is found to be f_pu = 0.247 ± 0.012 and f_pu = 0.156 ± 0.003.     

Electronic energy exchange in high-temperature air

Kinetic processes with the participation of electronic states of atoms and molecules in air behind the shock wave front were analyzed. All metastable levels of molecular and atomic oxygen and nitrogen and nitrogen oxide molecules situated below the dissociation energy were analyzed. In high-temperature air, atom and molecule electronic states are formed in dissociation and recombination, electronic energy exchange in collisions of particles, and chemical exchange reactions. The formation of excited electronic states in the recombination of atoms and isoenergy vibrational energy transfer from highly excited vibrational levels into electronic energy is the fastest process. The quenching of metastable particles occurs in collisions between particles, dissociation and recombination, and chemical exchange reactions. A database on electronic energy exchange rate constants in high-temperature air is presented.     

真空电子偶素原子的产生

用慢正电子束入射固体靶表面,通过测量湮没光子能谱随靶温度和入射慢正电子能量的变化,用“峰法”确定慢正电子产生电子偶素原子的转换率。转换率依赖于靶材料、靶温度和入射慢正电子能量。对材料锗转换率可达80％。 关键词：     

ZnS overlayer on in situ chemical bath deposited CdS quantum dot-assembled TiO2 films for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

ZnS overlayers were deposited on the CdS quantum dot (QD)-assembled TiO₂ films, where the CdS QDs were grown on the TiO₂ by repeated cycles of the in situ chemical bath deposition (CBD). With increasing the CdS CBD cycles, the CdS QD-assembled TiO₂ films were transformed from the TiO₂ film partially covered by small CdS QDs (Type I) to that fully covered by large CdS QDs (Type II). The ZnS overlayers significantly improved the overall energy conversion efficiency of both Types I and II. The ZnS overlayers can act as the intermediate layer and energy barrier at the interfaces. However, the dominant effects of the ZnS overlayers were different for the Types I and II. For Type I, ZnS overlayer dominantly acted as the intermediate layer between the exposed TiO₂ surface and the electrolyte, leading to the suppressed recombination rate for the TiO₂/electrolyte and the significantly enhanced charge-collection efficiency. On the contrary, for Type II, it dominantly acted as the efficient energy barrier at the interface between the CdS QDs and the electrolyte, leading to the hindered recombination rate from the large CdS QDs to the electrolyte and thus enhanced electron injection efficiency.     

Positron Characteristics in Cadmium and Zinc Chalcogenides

Electron energy levels and positron states have been calculated for cadmium and zinc chalcogenide compounds within the pseudo-potential approach and the independent particle model.Furthermore,the present contribution deals with the electron and positron chemical potentials allowing the calculation of the positron affinity to different materials of interest and hetero-structures formed by these materials.Besides,we here determine the positron diffusion constant by means of the positron deformation potential.An attempt has been made to scale positron affinity and diffusion constant with the lattice constant and the band gap energy,respectively.Such scaling is found to be not possible.The information gathered by the present study is of prime importance for a better understanding of positron trapping at interfaces and precipitates and should be useful in slow positron beam experiments.     

相对论飞秒激光辐照表面调制靶产生高定向性正电子束

激光驱动的正电子源具有高产额、短脉宽、高能量的优点。采用粒子模拟和蒙特卡罗模拟相结合的方法,对相对论飞秒激光与表面具有微米丝阵结构的调制靶相互作用产生正电子束的过程进行了全三维的模拟研究。结果表明,在激光能量约3.2 J、脉宽约为40 fs的情况下,可得到产额为1011量级、最大能量达120 MeV的超热电子束,其轰击高Z转换靶可达到产额为109量级、截止能量约50 MeV的正电子,且正电子的发散角仅为4.92°。相比于平板靶,表面调制靶的使用可以提高正电子的产额、能量和定向性。     

Tunable monoenergy positron annihilation spectroscopy of polyethylene glycol thin films

Doppler broadening and coincidence Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation experiments have been performed in three kinds of polyethylene glycol(PEG) membrane formed with different average molecular weight using the tunable monoenergy slow positron probe as a function of implantion energy. The obtained positron annihilation parameters are interpreted from two aspects: surface effect and differences in micro-structure or chemical environment of positron annihilation. The experimental results show that the regulation of densification of PEG molecular packing and distribution uniformity from the near surface layer to the bulk region in the film forming process can be well realized by changing its molecular weight. Combining a variable monoenergetic slow positron beam and these two positron annihilation spectroscopy methods is a powerful tool to study positron annihilation characteristics and for polymeric thin-film fine structure analysis.     

Lifetime measurements with a scanning positron microscope

First lifetime results obtained with a scanning positron microscope will be presented. A pulsed positron beam with a variable energy from 0.5 to 20 keV, with a spot diameter of 2 microm, can be electronically scanned over an area of 0.6x0.6 mm(2). This beam is formed after a double-stage stochastic cooling (moderation) of positrons emitted from a radioactive isotope. Included in the system is a conventional scanning electron microprobe for surface analysis. Three-dimensional positron lifetime spectra of a GaAs sample with a small surface scratch reveal the range due to the mechanical damage.     

An overview of atomic and molecular processes in critical velocityionization

The authors present an overview of the time development of some atomic and molecular processes in critical ionization velocity (CIV). In the preonset stage, metastable states play an important role: they provide an energy pooling mechanism allowing low-energy electrons to participate in the ionization process; they may explain the low energy threshold was well as the fast time scale in the onset of CIV. For a sustaining CIV to occur, Townsend's criterion has to be satisfied. The kinetic energies of the neutrals are transformed to plasma wave energies via beam-plasma instabilities, and the plasma waves that heat the electron result in a tail formation. Excitation of neutrals with subsequent radiation is an important energy loss mechanism. Finite size also limits the instability growth rate. In the propagation of CIV, ion-molecule reactions and molecular dissociative recombination are important     

Termolecular chemistry facilitated by radical-radical recombinations and its impact on flame speed predictions

Recent theoretical studies have shown that termolecular chemistry can be facilitated through reactions of flame radicals (H, O, and OH) or O₂ with highly-energized collision complexes (either radical or stable species) formed in exothermic reactions. In this work, radical-radical recombination reaction induced termolecular chemistry and its impact on combustion modeling was studied. Two recombination reactions, H + CH₃ + M → CH₄ + M and H + OH + M → H₂O + M, were analyzed using ab-initio master equation analyses guided by quasiclassical trajectory results. The dynamics results and the master equation calculations indicate that CH₄^? and H₂O^? (formed in the two radical-radical reactions outlined above) react rapidly with flame radicals and O₂ at rates that are competitive with collisional cooling. The addition of these processes into conventional combustion modeling requires two modifications: the inclusion of the new nonthermal termolecular reaction rates and the simultaneous reduction of the competing recombination reaction rates. The former is described with newly derived Arrhenius expressions based on quasiclassical trajectories, and the latter is achieved by perturbing the recombination reaction rate during the simulation. Kinetic modeling was used to gauge the impact of including this nonthermal chemistry for H₂/CH₄-air laminar flames speeds. Inclusion of this nonthermal chemistry has a noticeable impact on simulated flame speeds. The procedure developed here can be utilized to properly quantify the effects of such nonthermal reactions in macroscopic kinetic models.     

正电子慢化体的研究和进展

正电子湮没技术是一种研究材料的微观缺陷和相变的灵敏工具,在通常的正电子谱仪中,正电子能量为MeV量级,在样品中注入深度比较学（－100μm）,主要研究材料体内的平均缺陷密度,慢正电子束方法把正电子的能量降低为keV量级（而且可以调节）,注入比较浅（－μm）,所以是研究表面缺陷的探测手段,正电子慢化体是产生慢正电子的关键设备,对其研究有重要意义,文章综述了慢化体研究的历史和现状,从物理概念出发介绍使正电子慢化的四种可能方法和当今慢化体的五种几何排列方法,其中应用最广泛的是钨慢化体和百叶窗式的排列方式,效率最高的是惰性气体固体慢化体,而加电场慢化体是有待开发的高效慢化体。     

Positronium annihilation in silica aerogel studied by a positron age-momentum correlation technique

A high-performance positron age-momentum correlation (AMOC) spectrometer was newly developed. The counting rate is increased up to 200 cps much larger than the value 20~cps reported by other international groups. And at the same time, the time resolution still keeps at the international level of 220 ps. Furthermore, positronium (Ps) annihilation in silica aerogel was investigated by AMOC, which indicates: (1) Ps annihilation between the grains dominantly undergoes pick-off process and spin conversion from o-Ps to p-Ps; (2) Annealing below 400 ℃ changes the grain surface conditions, i. e. the desorption of hydrogen and the decrease of the defect centers concentration.     

Photostimulation of photoconductivity in electron-irradiated CdS:Cu single crystals

We have studied the photoconductivity of CdS:Cu single crystals irradiated by fast electrons. When the density of fast recombination centers (s-centers) due to the electron irradiation is high, one observes photostimulation of photoconductivity (PSP). PSP is due to the photoexcitation of holes from the s-centers into the valence band and their subsequent decay at slow recombination centers. The energy location of the s-centers can be found from the peak in the PSP spectrum; we find that E_s=E_v+(1.67 ± 0.02) eV.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 50–53, January, 1989.     

Antineutrino energy spectrum unfolding based on the Daya Bay measurement and its applications

The prediction of reactor antineutrino spectra will play a crucial role as reactor experiments enter the precision era.The positron energy spectrum of 3.5 million antineutrino inverse beta decay reactions observed by the Day a Bay experiment,in combination with the fission rates of fissile isotopes in the reactor,is used to extract the positron energy spectra resulting from the fission of specific isotopes.This information can be used to produce a precise,data-based prediction of the antineutrino energy spectrum in other reactor antineutrino experiments with different fission fractions than Day a Bay.The positron energy spectra are unfolded to obtain the antineutrino energy spectra by removing the contribution from detector response with the Wiener-SVD unfolding method.Consistent results are obtained with other unfolding methods.A technique to construct a data-based prediction of the reactor antineutrino energy spectrum is proposed and investigated.Given the reactor fission fractions,the technique can predict the energy spectrum to a 2% precision.In addition,we illustrate how to perform a rigorous comparison between the unfolded antineutrino spectrum and a theoretical model prediction that avoids the input model bias of the unfolding method.