A check for consistency between positron-atomic hydrogen total,positronium formation,and ionization cross section measurements

We have recently measured total cross sections for 5 to 302 eV positrons scattered by atomic hydrogen using a beam transmission technique. A check for consistency is made between these measurements and prior measurements of positronium formation and ionization cross sections by making use of available theoretical calculations of elastic and excitation cross sections for positron-atomic hydrogen scattering.     

Mössbauer characterization of biotites from zoned pegmatites

We have measured total cross sections for 5–302 eV positrons and 31–302 eV electrons scattered by atomic hydrogen using a beam-transmission technique. Atomic hydrogen obtained from a radio frequency (rf) discharge source flows into an aluminium scattering cell maintained at about 150 K to minimize recombination. Absolute total cross sections are obtained by making relative measurements for positrons and electrons scattering from H₂ and a known mixture of H and H₂, and then normalizing the measurements for positron-H₂ scattering to prior absolute measurements. Our total cross section measurements for positrons and electrons scattering from H are found to be merged to within 5% for energies from 31 to 302 eV.     

Measurements of total and positronium-formation cross sections for the scattering of positrons by alkali atoms

We present a review of our recent measurements of total cross sections (Q _T's) for the scattering of positrons by Na, K, and Rb, and positronium-formation cross sections (Q _Ps's) for Na and K. For our total cross section measurements, a beam transmission technique has been used. For ourQ _Ps measurements, our approach involves setting upper and lower limits onQ _Ps using a combination of (1) measuring the transmission of the positron beam with the angular discrimination of the apparatus made as poor as possible, and (2) measuring the 511 keV annihilation gamma rays in coincidence produced by the decay of para-Ps formed in the scattering cell. Comparison with theoretical calculations shows that our measuredQ _T's andQ _Ps's for Na and K agree reasonably well with a close coupling approximation (CCA) calculation which takes into account the formation of Ps in then=1 andn=2 states. In the 3–10 eV energy range, this calculation predicts a peak in theQ _T's andQ _Ps's for K which also appears in our measurements. The absence of such a peak in our measuredQ _T's andQ _Ps's (preliminary) for Na in this energy range is also consistent with the same theory. Comparisons with five-state CCA calculations ofQ _T which do not take Ps-formation into account also show good agreement with our positron-Na, K, and RbQ _T measurements for energies above 20 eV, but show dramatic departures from our measurements below 10 eV for K and Rb.     

Differential cross sections for elastic scattering and positronium formation for positron collisions with Ne,Ar, Kr and Xe

Differential cross sections for elastic scattering and Ps(1s) formation are calculated in the truncated coupled-static (TCS) approximation. Comparison is made with the elastic scattering measurements of Dou et al. on Ar and Kr. There is no support from the TCS approximation for the view that structure seen in the experimental results for Ar in the energy range 55–60 eV may be due to a resonance associated with coupling to the positronium formation channel. Rather, we believe that Dou et al. are right in correlating this feature with the maximum in the ionization cross section. In the experiment on Kr structures are observed at 25 and 200 eV. It is tentatively suggested that the structure at 200 eV may be the resonance seen in the TCS calculation at 100 eV, but modified by polarization and absorption effects. It is also suggested that the feature at 25 eV could be associated with coupling to excited states of positronium. The TCS results for the Xe target predict some very pronounced behaviour which would be worth experimental investigation. TCS differential cross sections for Ps(1s) formation by capture of an electron from the outer p-shell of the atom are presented for impact energies up to 75 eV. A noticeable property of these cross sections is that they do not usually peak at the forward direction; this is consistent with an experimental observation by Laricchia et al. on He and Ar targets. The importance of also looking at electron capture from inner shells is emphasized and illustrated by the cross section for electron capture from the 3s shell of Ar.     

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.     

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.     

Symmetry and Condensed Matter Physics – A Computational Approach,by M. El-Batanouny and F. Wooten

The behaviour of positrons below the inelastic collision threshold in rare gases can usually be completely accounted for in terms of the annihilation and elastic scattering cross sections for collisions between a positron and a single gas atom. Determining these cross sections has been the subject of many theoretical and experimental investigations. However the basic premise that the positron interacts with the gas atoms, one at a time, has been recently questioned by the yet unexplained results of some low-temperature experiments. This article discusses the annihilation and elastic scattering cross sections as they relate to the conventional picture of positrons in He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe gas; as well as the possibility of bound states for positrons in the gases at low temperatures.     

Positron scattering by the noble gases

We report cross sections for positron collisions with the noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe. These cross sections are for Ps(1s) formation and elastic scattering, and are calculated in the (truncated) coupled-static approximation. Comparison is made with experiments which measure formation of positronium into all bound states. At their maxima, the theoretical and experimental cross sections are of comparable size but, at higher energies, the theoretical numbers are often much lower than the experimental values, a discrepancy which is difficult to understand. Some very interesting structure is observed in the theoretical cross sections, but the calculations do not show the structure at high energies seen in the experiments. The importance of calculating positronium formation not only by electron capture from the outermost shell of the atom but also from inner shells is highlighted. It is suggested that a sufficiently refined experiment may be able to see shell effects. Structure in the elastic cross section which correlates with behaviour in the positronium channel is pointed out. For He, the effects of polarization and absorption in the elastic and Ps(1s) formation channels is also studied using secondorder optical potentials. Polarization and absorption are found to be very important for this system.     

Recent advances in the characterization of a Ps beam

Recent developments in the field of beams of positronium (Ps) atoms formed in charge-exchange reactions of slow positrons with gaseous targets are reported. The beam production efficiencies with respect to target species and density have been measured, together with a determination of the population of the quantum states of the atoms in the beam. Estimates of the total scattering cross section of Ps with He and Ar targets, at intermediate projectile velocities, have been obtained.     

Positron scattering from hydrogen atom embedded in weakly-coupled plasmas

Elastic scattering of positrons from the hydrogen atoms in weakly-coupled plasmas has been studied using an expression for partial wave scattering amplitude that has been derived within the framework second order distorted wave Born approximation. The interactions among the charged particles in the plasma have been represented by Debye-Hückel potentials. A detailed study has been made on differential and total cross sections in the energy range 20–300 eV. To the best of our knowledge such a study on the differential and total cross sections for elastic positron-hydrogen collisions in a weakly-coupled plasma environment is reported for the first time in the literature.     

Dynamical treatment of binding,polarization and recoil in asymmetric ion-atom collisions

The cross sections for quenching the lowestn ² P states of the alkali atoms Li, Na, K., and Rb by the inert gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe are presented for 5 eV≦E _c.m.≦ 100 eV. These cross sections are derived from the corresponding cross sections for collisional excitation by applying the principle of microreversibility. Upper estimates for the quenching cross sections at thermal energies are given; in all studied cases the quenching cross sections are <8·10^?3Ų. These new upper limits are in most cases much lower than those obtained from other methods previously.     

Investigations of positronium formation and destruction using 3gamma/2gammaannihilation-ratio measurements

Positronium (Ps) produced by 4 to 40 eV positrons colliding with Ne, Ar, Kr, CO2, and O2 is investigated by measuring the ratio of signals of two gamma rays in coincidence resulting from (a) three gamma annihilation of ortho-Ps and (b) two annihilation gamma rays due to para-Ps decay and destruction of ortho-Ps at an aluminum scattering cell surface. These ratios provide evidence that relates to the kinetic energy dependence of ortho-Ps interactions with an aluminum surface, the Ps formation potential at this surface, and the fact that Ps is being formed with inner orbital electrons for CO2 and O2.     

Doubly-differential ionization cross sections of positron impact on argon

We report the first measurement of doubly-differential ionization cross sections for positron impact on argon atoms. Energy- and angle-resolved measurements of ejected electrons in time correlation with the produced and detected ions have been performed. Corresponding measurements with incident electrons were made for comparison. With positrons and electrons as primary particles of 100 eV energy and ejected electrons of 15 eV, our measurements were extended over electron-emission angles from 0 to 90. Lacking theoretical predictions for the doubly-differential ionization of argon, we compare our measured data with the theoretical doubly-differential ionization cross sections, calculated for positron and electron impact on hydrogen by Klar and Berakdar (Freiburg) [1]. The angular dependence of positron and electron cross sections for argon agrees well with the theory for hydrogen. In particular, we found that for small angles of electron ejection the cross section for positron impact ionization exceeds that for electron impact by an order of magnitude in accordance with the predictions of Klar and Berakdar.     

Positron-atom and positron-molecule collisions

The scattering of positrons by atoms and molecules is reviewed. The recent development of monoenergetic slow positron beams and their applications to the measurement of cross sections for positrons interacting in various gases are discussed briefly. The theoretical development of positron collisions in gases is covered from the beginning. Both elastic and the inelastic processes have been included. Comparisons are made between the measured values and theoretical predictions. The deficiencies of the theoretical models and experimental apparatus are also pointed out.     

Excitation of electronic states of Ar, H(2), and N(2) by positron impact

We have measured the first state-resolved, absolute cross sections for positron excitation of electronic states of an atom or molecule using a high resolution (Delta E approximately 25 meV FWHM) beam of positrons from a Penning-Malmberg trap. We present cross sections for the excitation of the low-lying levels of Ar, H(2), and N(2) for incident positron energies between threshold and 30 eV. For Ar and H2, comparison can be made with theoretical calculations, and, in the case of H(2), the results resolve a significant discrepancy between the only two available calculations.     

Bhabha to Møller cross section ratios in the energy range 2.15–2.45 MeV

The cross sections for Bhabha and Møller scattering have been investigated in the energy range 2.1–2.4 MeV using monoenergetic positrons and electrons to search for hypothetical resonances superimposed to the continuum predicted by quantum electro dynamics. Bhabba-to-Mott, Møller-to-Mott and Møller-to-Bhabha cross section ratios were measured. The Bhabha-to-Mott ratios could be determined with statistical errors of typically 1% and remaining systematic errors not exceeding the statistical ones. No resonances in Bhabha scattering were observed. Limits for the intrinsic widths of hypothetical resonances are given. For the first time upper limits are deduced from our data for hypothetical resonances in the Møller scattering cross section in the MeV range. Additionally, Møller-to-Bhabha cross section ratios could be determined with good precision. A good agreement between the experimental and theoretical Møller-to-Bhabha ratios can be stated calling in question the recently predicted existence of series of narrow, unresolvable resonances in the Bhabha scattering cross section.     

Ionization cross sections for electron scattering from metastable rare-gas atoms （Ne~＊ and Ar~＊）

The optical-model approach has been used to investigate the electron-impact ionization of metastable rare-gas atoms. A complex equivalent-local polarization potential is obtained to describe the ionization continuum channels. We have calculated the cross sections for collisional ionization of the metastable atoms Ne* and Ar* by electrons in the energy range from threshold to 200 eV. The present results are in agreement with the available experimental measurements and other theoretical calculations.     

Zur Spinpolarisation langsamer Elektronen nach der Streuung an Molekülen

Cross sections and spin polarization of low-energy electrons scattered by I₂ and C₂H₅I molecules were measured in the energy range from 200 to 600 eV and angular range from 30 to 150°. At the same time, several authors made calculations of cross sections and polarizations based on the following assumptions: The molecule consists of free atoms which are independent of each other (the influence of binding is negligible) and scattering of an electron does not occur more than once within the molecule. The agreement between theory and experiment in a wide angular range justifies these assumptions for the present problems. Polarization values lower than the theoretical ones were measured only at scattering angles where the theory predicts very narrow and high values of the spin polarization. Qualitative arguments show that intramolecular scattering very likely is responsible for the deviations found between theoretical and experimental polarization peaks. By means of the polarization of the scattered intensity one can easily decide how much of the scattered intensity comes from one part of the molecule and how much comes from the other part.     

Recent positron-atom cross section measurements and calculations

We review recent cross section results for low-energy positron scattering from atomic targets. A comparison of the latest measurements and calculations for positron collisions with the noble gases and a brief update of the newest studies on other atoms is presented. In particular, we provide an overview of the cross sections for elastic scattering, positronium formation, direct and total ionisation, as well as total scattering, at energies typically between about 0.1 and a few hundred eV. We discuss the differences in the current experimental data sets and compare those results to the available theoretical models. Recommended data sets for the total cross section are also reported for each noble gas. A summary of the recent developments in the scattering from other atoms, such as atomic hydrogen, the alkali and alkaline-earth metals, and two-electron systems is finally provided.     

惰性气体氦、氖、氩原子与氢(氘、氚)分子碰撞截面的理论计算

原子分子相互作用在许多物理过程中都十分重要.原子分子碰撞过程中转动激发截面的研究是确定原子与分子间相互作用的理想方法,许多理论和实验工作者在这方面做了大量工作,并得到理论和实验数据.本文用密耦近似计算了惰性气体He、Ne、Kr与h2、D2、T2碰撞的弹性和转动激发截面,原子入射能量分别为0.05 eV、0.15eV、0.20eV和0.25eV.