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The correlated motion of a positron surrounded by electrons is a fundamental many-body problem. We approach this by modeling the momentum density of annihilating electron-positron pairs using the framework of reduced density matrices, natural orbitals, and natural geminals (electron-positron pair wave functions) of the quantum theory of many-particle systems. We find that an expression based on the natural geminals provides an exact, unique, and compact expression for the momentum density. The natural geminals can be used to define and to determine enhancement factors for enhancement models going beyond the independent-particle model for a better understanding of the results of positron annihilation experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider electronic exchange and correlation effects in density-functional calculations of two-dimensional systems. Starting from wave-function calculations of total energies and electron densities of inhomogeneous model systems, we derive corresponding exchange-correlation potentials and energies. We compare these with predictions of the local-spin-density approximation and discuss its accuracy. Our data will be useful as reference data in testing, comparing, and parametrizing exchange and correlation functionals for two-dimensional electronic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that Be exhibits amphoteric behavior in GaN, involving switching between substitutional and interstitial positions in the lattice. This behavior is observed through the dominance of BeGa in the positron annihilation signals in Be-doped GaN, while the emergence of VGa at high temperatures is a consequence of the Be impurities being driven to interstitial positions. The similarity of this behavior to that found for Na and Li in ZnO suggests that this could be a universal property of light dopants substituting for heavy cations in compound semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological insulators are attracting considerable interest due to their potential for technological applications and as platforms for exploring wide-ranging fundamental science questions. In order to exploit, fine-tune, control, and manipulate the topological surface states, spectroscopic tools which can effectively probe their properties are of key importance. Here, we demonstrate that positrons provide a sensitive probe for topological states and that the associated annihilation spectrum provides a technique for characterizing these states. Firm experimental evidence for the existence of a positron surface state near Bi2Te2Se with a binding energy of Eb=2.7±0.2eV is presented and is confirmed by first-principles calculations. Additionally, the simulations predict a significant signal originating from annihilation with the topological surface states and show the feasibility to detect their spin texture through the use of spin-polarized positron beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]