Coleman PG, Cheesman N, Lowry ER. Coupling between positron-atom scattering channels above the first inelastic threshold.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2009;
102:173201. [PMID:
19518780 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.102.173201]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2009] [Revised: 02/24/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Experimentally determined cross sections for the elastic scattering of positrons by argon and xenon atoms have been found to exhibit a steplike increase at the first inelastic threshold energy--i.e., that for positronium formation. Rather than supporting the existence of a cusplike behavior predicted theoretically, this feature, which is more pronounced for xenon, suggests the existence of an intermediate virtual positronium state which enhances the elastic interaction probability.
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