Relativistic Ps{sup -} and Ps

Journal Article · Mon May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0· OSTI ID:20787257

Uggerhoej, U I ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C (Denmark)

Relativistic positronium (Ps) is of potential use to address fundamental questions in QED - e.g., through direct lifetime measurements of the 'para' state of Ps, severe magnetic quenching of the ortho-Ps lifetime, so-called 'superpenetration', and possibly to measure Ps-atom cross sections. Existing schemes for the production of relativistic positronium have relied on pion production through, e.g., nuclear interactions. This yields a low-intensity beam with relatively poor characteristics in both longitudinal and transverse emittance. By use of positrons impinging on a thin carbon foil inside a high-frequency rf cavity, it is proposed to generate relativistic positronium ions (Ps{sup -}) by rapid acceleration. Relativistic Ps can be derived from the positronium negative ion by subsequent Lorentz stripping or photodetachment. Intensities of the order 100 per second and Lorentz factors {approx_equal}20 are feasible with present technology.

• OSTI ID: 20787257
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 73; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ACCELERATION
ANIONS
ATOMS
CARBON
CROSS SECTIONS
ELECTRON DETACHMENT
FOILS
LIFETIME
PARTICLE PRODUCTION
POSITRONIUM
POSITRONS
QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
QUENCHING
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
STRIPPING