Dynamics of positronium bubble growth in liquid media and the energy dissipation problem

The dynamics of positronium bubble growth and dissipative energy loss accompanying this process were considered in the hydrodynamic approximation for liquid media with strongly differing values of the surface tension and viscosity. The driving force of the growth of the positronium bubble is repulsive exchange interaction between the electron inherent in the positronium atom and electrons of surrounding molecules. Intermolecular attraction (Laplace pressure) and viscous media retard bubble growth. In liquid helium and glycerol, the Ps formation time is comparable to or even longer than the parapositronium lifetime. Dissipative energy losses accompanying the bubble growth are substantially higher than the surface energy of the equilibrium bubble.Translated from Khimiya Vysokikh Energii, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2005, pp. 44–51.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Mikhin, Stepanov, Byakov.