An energy tunable continuous 23S1 positronium beam.

We describe the experimental production of a beam of 23S1 positronium (Ps) atoms obtained from charge-exchange collisions between a positron beam and Xe held in a gas cell. The angular divergence of the emitted Ps beam was recorded using two position sensitive detectors located at different distances from the gas cell. The fraction of the Ps beam produced in the 23S1 level was measured via the change in the Ps count rate after driving the 23S1 → 23P2 transition with microwave radiation; with optimal experimental parameters, we estimate that up to 10% of the Ps beam is formed in the 23S1 state. The measured properties of the beam were used to evaluate the feasibility of using the system for precision spectroscopy of the n = 2 Ps fine structure using Ramsey interferometry.

Precision Microwave Spectroscopy of the Positronium 2

We report the results of a new measurement of the positronium 2 ^{3}S_{1}→2 ^{3}P_{2} (ν_{2}) interval. Using a modified experimental arrangement we have significantly reduced the effects of microwave reflections, which in previous experiments resulted in shifts and asymmetric line shapes. With the improved apparatus we obtain an experimental value of ν_{2}=8627.94±0.95 MHz, which is within 1.3σ of the theoretical value 8626.71±0.08 MHz.

Precision Microwave Spectroscopy of the Positronium n=2 Fine Structure.

We report a new measurement of the positronium (Ps) 2^{3}S_{1}→2^{3}P_{0} interval. Slow Ps atoms, optically excited to the radiatively metastable 2^{3}S_{1} level, flew through a microwave radiation field tuned to drive the transition to the short-lived 2^{3}P_{0} level, which was detected via the time spectrum of subsequent ground state Ps annihilation radiation. After accounting for Zeeman shifts we obtain a transition frequency ν_{0}=18501.02±0.61 MHz, which is not in agreement with the theoretical value of ν_{0}=18498.25±0.08 MHz.

Positron scattering from pyridine.

We present a range of cross section measurements for the low-energy scattering of positrons from pyridine, for incident positron energies of less than 20 eV, as well as the independent atom model with the screening corrected additivity rule including interference effects calculation, of positron scattering from pyridine, with dipole rotational excitations accounted for using the Born approximation. Comparisons are made between the experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. For the positronium formation cross section, we also compare with results from a recent empirical model. In general, quite good agreement is seen between the calculations and measurements although some discrepancies remain which may require further investigation. It is hoped that the present study will stimulate development of ab initio level theoretical methods to be applied to this important scattering system.

Near-Threshold Ionization of Argon by Positron Impact.

The direct single-ionization cross section for Ar by positron impact has been measured in the region above the first ionization threshold. These measurements are compared to semiclassical calculations which give rise to a power law variation of the cross section in the threshold region. The experimental results appear to be in disagreement with extensions to the Wannier theory applied to positron impact ionization, with a smaller exponent than that calculated by most previous works. In fact, in this work, we see no difference in threshold behavior between the positron and electron cases. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.