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High-purity crystalline Tellurium has been investigated using positron lifetime spectroscopy technique in order to determine basic information missing in the current experimental knowledge of the positron annihilation spectroscopy field. Three different pairs of samples have been studied in the as-received state and, in order to eliminate the vacancy-type defects, after consecutive isothermal treatments at 300 C. Lifetime corresponding to the annihilation in the Tellurium bulk has been determined as 282(1) ps. Previous theoretical calculations present in the bibliography that used different methods and parameterization provided a wide range of values for the annihilation lifetime of the positron in the bulk of Tellurium. The obtained result has been used to identify the most accurate results among them. This research was supported by the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and by the Comunidad de Madrid (Spain)—multiannual agreement with UC3M (“Excelencia para el Profesorado Universitario”—EPUC3M14)—Fifth regional research plan 2016–2020.

Vacancy-type free-volume defects in lithium tetraborate Li 2 B 4 O 7 single crystal, grown by the Czochralski technique, are probed with positron annihilation spectroscopy in the lifetime measuring mode. The experimental positron lifetime spectrum is reconstructed within the three-component fitting, involving channels of positron and positronium Ps trapping, as well as within the two-component fitting with a positronium-compensating source input. Structural configurations of the most efficient positron traps are considered using the crystallographic specificity of lithium tetraborate with the main accent on cation-type vacancies. Possible channels of positron trapping are visualized using the electronic structure calculations with density functional theory at the basis of structural parameters proper to Li 2 B 4 O 7 . Spatially-extended positron-trapping complexes involving singly-ionized lithium vacancies, with character lifetime close to 0.32 ns, are responsible for positron trapping in the nominally undoped lithium tetraborate Li 2 B 4 O 7 crystal.

The objective of the study was the structural analysis of the 70TeO2-5XO-10P2O5-10ZnO-5PbF2 (X = Mg, Bi2, Ti) tellurite glasses doped with ions of the rare-earth elements Er3+, based on the PALS (positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy) method of measuring positron lifetimes. Values of positron lifetimes and the corresponding intensities may be connected with the sizes and number of structural defects, the sizes of which range from a few angstroms to a few dozen nanometers. Experimental positron lifetime spectrum revealed existence of two positron lifetime components τ 1 andτ 2. Their interpretation was based on two-state positron trapping model where the physical parameters are the positron annihilation rate and positron trapping rate.

Ortho-positronium (o-Ps) annihilation lifetime was calculated in non-uniform cylinder-shaped pores by solving Schrodinger equation using a well-known multi-physics program called COMSOL. The o-Ps annihilation lifetime variation in terms of temperature was calculated on the basis of ETE model via a numerical method. The COMSOL simulations indicate that as long as the pore is uniform cylinder-shaped, the results agree with those of two-dimensional ETE model, whereas deformations in the cylinder shape (indentation or protrusion) change the temperature behavior of ETE model and, thereby, higher values are predicted for o-Ps lifetime in the pore at lower temperatures. The geometry of the non-uniform cylinder-shaped pores, which is accompanied by empirical evidence, can be used for the analysis of empirical results obtained from positron lifetime spectroscopy in different temperatures.

Calculations are performed together with the summarization of published data on the measurement of positron annihilation rates in a number of simple substances. The information potential of different methods underlying positron annihilation spectroscopy is analyzed as applied to the study of condensed matter. The features of the mechanism of positron annihilation in metals are discussed. The possibility of investigating the electronic and defect structures of metals and alloys using the method of the time distribution of annihilation photons is considered.

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS), sometimes refered to as Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy (PALS), are non-destructive techniques commonly used for defects and voids study in materials. It provides a handy tool for in-depth profiling down to few microns, and in determining open volume defects like dislocation, agglomerates, and vacancies at ppm concentration. PAS with the aid of Doppler broadening has certainly opened a new gateway in the spectroscopy of solid state physics, metals, RO systems, and semiconductors. Since it is an antiparticle of the electron it gives better information on the electron density in the material of interest. The lifetime of a positron is a complex function of electron density present at the annihilation site. To add beauty, in principle PAS gives the type and concentration of the defect independently by a single measurement. This article presents PAS based on the most relevant, most iconic, and most recent references.

The objective of the study was the structural analysis of the TeO2-P2O5-ZnO-LiNbO3 tellurite glasses doped with ions of the rare-earth elements: Er3+, Nd3+ and Gd3+ based on the PALS (Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy) method of measuring positron lifetimes. Values of positron lifetimes and the corresponding intensities may be connected with the sizes and number of structural defects, such as vacancies, mono-vacancies, dislocations or pores, the sizes of which range from a few angstroms to a few dozen nanometres. Experimental positron lifetime spectrum revealed existence of two positron lifetime components τ1 and τ2. Their interpretation was based on two-state positron trapping model where the physical parameters are the annihilation velocity and positron trapping rate.

In the paper is demonstrated the use of positron lifetime spectroscopy (PLS) in a comparative study of the results in ferroelectrics. The first part is devoted to the application of PLS as a probe for measurements of ferroelectrics. In Triglycine Sulphate (TGS) (NH3CH2COOH)3H2SO4, Rochelle Salt (RS) NaKC4H4O64H2O and Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate (KDP) KH2PO4 at different temperatures and gamma irradiation doses is established the existence of three positron lifetime components. This experimental results show that the second long lifetime component as a function of temperature in order-disorder ferroelectrics TGS, RS and KDP is due to the positron trapping in negatively charge defects of ferroelectric. The positron spectroscopy method is effective for measurements of extremely small defects and voids, which is important for the next exploitation period of the ferroelectrics. PLS measurements of ferroelectrics show that about the third lifetime component is due to the local formation of orhto-positronium state on the boundary between the domains. In the second part the PLS analysis has been applied for examination the electronic and defect structure in selected ferroelectrics materials. In gamma irradiated TGS positrons are trapped in the defect states of the oxygen ions of the two radicals CH2COO- and NH3CHCOO-. In RS positrons are trapped also in the defect states of the oxygen ions and OH groups.

$\gamma$ spectra for positron annihilation in noble-gas atoms are calculated using many-body theory for positron momenta up to the positronium-formation threshold. This data is used, together with time-evolving positron-momentum distributions determined in [arXiv:1706.01434 (2017)], to calculate the time-varying $\gamma$ spectra produced during positron cooling in noble gases. The $\gamma$-spectra and their $\bar{S}$ and $\bar{W}$ shape parameters are shown to be sensitive probes of the time evolution of the positron momentum distribution, and thus provide a means of studying positron cooling that is complementary to positron lifetime spectroscopy., Comment: This version contains minor update to references, otherwise unchanged

The annihilation processes of positrons with medium electrons are investigated in details. We solved the main problem of creation of nanoundulators, which have very large lifetimes, and by which we can control. The lifetime of a positron in the regime of channeling is estimated s, which on a times is bigger than at usual cases.

In this paper, we present the study of local molecular motions in poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) below glass transition temperature by measuring the ortho-positronium (o-Ps) intensity. Two series of experiments were performed: (1) the PMMA sample was irradiated by 22 Na positron source with elongated time at room temperature, 225 K and 16 K, respectively, and positron lifetime spectra were measured as a function of irradiation time and (2) Positron lifetime and Doppler broadening spectra were measured as a function of temperature from 16 to 350 K after positron irradiation at 16 K for more than 350 h. While the o-Ps lifetime always shows no change with elapsed time, decrease and increase of o-Ps intensity I 3 are observed at 225 K and 16 K, which are interpreted as the result of positron irradiation-induced free radicals and trapped electrons, respectively. With temperature increasing from 16 K, there is a continuous drop of I 3 beginning at around 100 K. This is due to some local group movements such as the ester and main chain methyl group rotations, which lead to the detrapping of accumulated electrons. These local motions do not need additional free volume, so we observed no change of the o-Ps lifetime. Some other structural relaxations such as β-relaxation are also observed and discussed.

We applied positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy to study the proton-irradiation-induced defects in germanium and its annealing behavior. The n-doped Ge ([As] = 9 × 1017 cm−3) samples were irradiated at room temperature with a proton energy of 15 MeV at a dose of 1015 cm−2. We distinguished a complex containing a vacancy and arsenic atoms. In addition, we observed shallow positron traps, which are ascribed to the impurities in a Ge lattice crystal. Isochronal annealing experiments were carried out in the temperature interval 300–820 K. Temperature-dependent positron lifetime measurements were performed after each annealing step. During isochronal annealing of the proton-irradiated Ge, a vacancy–As complex was found to dissociate to its constituents and the single monovacancies eventually anneal out. Two annealing stages were observed: the first, at ∼450 K, was attributed to the dissociation of complexes and the second annealing stage, at 650 K, was assigned to annealing of vacancies. Shallow positron traps anneal in the temperature range 540–660 K.

We present electronic structure calculations of positron lifetimes in various neutral and negative monovacancies in 3 C and 6 H silicon carbide. Self-consistent positron lifetime calculation schemes were used and full defect relaxation due to the creation of the vacancy and the presence of the positron was considered. Formation energies of the various possible charges of the defects were also calculated to predict their detectability in PAS. Lifetimes between 170 ps and 195 ps for V C and between 222 ps and 227 ps for V Si were obtained. Based on these results we propose new interpretations of the experimental PAS signals observed in n-type 3 C and 6 H -SiC samples.

A new photon-induced positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy approach has been developed using an S-band compact electron linac at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). The high energy ( 42 MeV ), intense (105 photons pulse−1), and ultra-short pulse (3 ps pulse width) photon beam creates positrons throughout an entire sample via pair production. A positron lifetime spectrum can be obtained by measuring the time difference between the accelerator's RF frequency and the detection time of the annihilation gamma rays. The positron lifetimes for lead and yttria-stabilized zirconia samples have been successfully measured.

A positron annihilation lifetime spectrometer using a magnetically guided continuous positron beam and the signal from secondary electrons (SE) emitted from the sample is presented. The positron and secondary electrons trajectories as well as the physics of SE were simulated using GEANT4 program. A special attention was paid to the consequences of positron backscattering, in particular on the shape of the lifetime spectrum. A very good agreement was obtained between simulation and measurements concerning the time resolution (~300–400 ps FWHM) for the studied range of incident positron energies. Due to the complex shape of the resolution function, the present design of the spectrometer is not suited to study of short lifetimes, but can be used for depth profiling porosimetry of materials with Ps formation with the an excellent peak to background ratio of ~105.

Defect configuration of Ge5As37S58chalcogenide glasses was studied by positron annihilation lifetime spectra (PALS). Size of nanovoids was determined using Liaos formula for radius of nanovoids in spherical approximation. Peculiarities of structural features were obtained from Raman spectra.

Microstructure changes of commercially pure titanium in a wide range of hydrogen concentrations from 0.8 at.% to 32.0 at.% were studied by means of positron lifetime spectroscopy and Doppler broadening spectroscopy. We have obtained new experimental data on the evolution of positron annihilation parameters τ f , τ d and their corresponding intensities I f , I d, as well as relative changes of parameters S / S 0 and W / W 0 depending on the hydrogen concentration in commercially pure titanium after gas-phase hydrogenation at 873 K. Results suggest that the hydrogenation of Ti samples up to concentrations of 1.31–2.27 at.% and subsequent cooling to a room temperature leads to the formation of vacancies and vacancy clusters. Further increase of the hydrogen concentration up to 32.0 at.% leads to the interaction of hydrogen with these defects and the formation of “cluster-hydrogen” and “vacancy-hydrogen” complexes.

The result of positron lifetime measurements of a defected 5251 Al alloy is reported. Positron lifetime is measured as a function of the thickness reduction of the sample which shows a nearly linear increase and then becomes constant; which can be considered to be a reason for the defect movement saturation. The trapping rate, trapping efficiency, trapping cross-section, defect concentration and defect density of positrons are also measured for the sample concerned. The behaviors of these parameters are matched with theoretical calculations. Data are analyzed using the PATFIT88 computer program.

Ortho-positronium pick off annihilation lifetime gives the information of the microscopic free volume of polymers. Polyimide polymers such as Kapton are applied in many fields, but it was impossible to apply the positron lifetime method for free volume investigation because of no positronium formation. Here, we apply the idea of the free positron annihilation probability that is sum of the probability of annihilation by the positron and electrons on the molecular chain where the positron localized and that for the annihilation with the electrons on the neighboring molecular chains. The second term is probably affected by the free volume change. We have successfully shown the temperature dependence and the electron beam irradiation effect on the free volume change by observing the free positron annihilation lifetime for Kapton.

The Low Energy Positron Toroidal Accumulator (LEPTA) at JINR proposed for generation of positronium in flight can be used for positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) [1]. The positron injector of the LEPTA facility can generate continuous a slow positron beam with the intensity up to 1∙107s-1 at the energy in the range of a few eV to 100 keV and width of the spectrum 1 – 2 eV. The injector is based on radioactive 22Na isotope. The solid neon is used as a moderator to generate monochromatic beam. The parameters of the positron beam allow scanning the condensed matter in depth up to 10 microns with resolutions less than 10 nanometers and investigating layered structures for microelectronics and properties of a surface.

At present time the Low Energy Positron Toroidal Accumulator (LEPTA) at JINR is under commissioning with circulating positron beam. The LEPTA facility is a small positron storage ring equipped with the electron cooling system and positron injector. The maximum positron energy is of 10 keV. The storage ring is aimed for generation of direct fluxes of ortho-positronium (o-Ps), produced in recombination of the positron beam circulating in the ring with single pass cooling electron beam. The project has few goals: annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) to monitoring defects of nanometer sizes in materials as a function of depth managed by the positron energy in a rage of a few eV to 100 keV.

This chapter reviews the steps required to capture and accumulate copious numbers of low-energy positrons, and to form positronium (Ps) atoms at low energies. We then relate the few results that have so far been achieved using large pulses of positrons at high densities, include observing Ps–Ps spin exchange quenching, formation and optical excitation of the Ps 2 molecule, and production of a fully spin-polarized ensemble of Ps via Ps–Ps spin exchange quenching. In addition there are many ongoing experiments that are benefiting from the availability of large positron pulses at lower densities, including studying antihydrogen, doing optical spectroscopy on Ps and its negative ion ( Michishio et al., 2015 ) with pulsed lasers, and eventually for measuring Ps free fall in Earth's gravitational field. Meanwhile a number of interesting possibilities involving positron–positron and Ps–Ps interactions are on the horizon, including forming Ps Bose–Einstein condensates and dense collections of positrons having a nonnegligible positronic Fermi energy. In particular, collecting positrons at high density on a tungsten tip from which they would be field emitted could be the basis for a valuable single-molecule positron microscope suggested by Platzman ( Barbiellini and Platzman, 2006 , Mills and Platzman, 2001 ), in which the damage that would ordinarily be sustained by a molecule is mitigated by the rapid transfer of the molecular excitations to the metallic surface.

Functional materials which have excellent performances in electrics, magnetics, optics, calorifics, acoustics, mec- hanics, chemistry and biomedicine are widely used in the various high-tech field. Positron annihilation spectroscopy, including positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, Doppler broadening spectroscopy and slow positron beam technique, which is especially sensitive to detect various defects, vacancies and microvoids, is a very effectual method to probe the microstructure of materials. Defecs distribution information from the surface to the inner and microstructure variation due to external physical and chemical condition gradual change can be obtained by refined analysis of positron annihilation parameters. Microstructure of Several types of functional materials was studied by positron annihilation spectroscopy. It’s proved that positron annihilation spectroscopy is a unique technique to study the microstructure of materials.

It is described that the proton beam induceds micro-size defects and electronic deep levels in n or p type single crystal silicon. Positron lifetime and Coincidence Doppler Broadening Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy were applied to study of characteristics of p type and n type silicon samples. In this investigation the numerical analysis of the Doppler spectra was employed to the determination of the shape parameter, S, defined as the ratio between the amount of counts in a central portion of the spectrum and the total counts of whole spectrum. The samples were exposed by 3.98 MeV proton beams ranging between 0 to particles. The S-parameter values strongly depend on the irradiated proton beam, that indicated the defects generate more. Positron lifetime shows that positrons trapped in vacancies and lifetime increased according to proton irradiation.

A new type of a positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) system has been set up at the superconducting electron accelerator ELBE [ at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. In contrast to existing source-based PALS systems, the approach described here makes use of an intense photon beam from electron bremsstrahlung which converts through pair production into positrons inside the sample under study. The article focusses on the production of intense bremsstrahlung using a superconducting electron linear accelerator, the production of positrons inside the sample under study, the efficient detector setup which allows for annihilation lifetime and Doppler-broadening spectroscopy simultaneously. Selected examples of positron annihilation spectroscopy are presented.

Nominally undoped, hydrothermally grown ZnO single crystals have been investigated before and after exposure to remote H-plasma. Defect characterization has been made by two complementary techniques of positron annihilation: positron lifetime spectroscopy and coincidence Doppler broadening. The high-momentum parts of the annihilation photon momentum distribution have been calculated from first principles in order to assist in defect identification. The positron annihilation results are supplemented by Atomic Force Microscopy for characterization of the crystal surface. It was found that virgin ZnO crystal contains Zn-vacancies associated with hydrogen. H-plasma treatment causes a significant reduction in concentration of these complexes. Physical mechanism of this effect is discussed in the paper.

Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) is a novel method that can provide molecular-level information about complex biological and macromolecular structure in a manner which is different, but complementary, to conventional medical and biochemical research methodology. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and Doppler broadening energy spectroscopy (DBES), coupled with a slow positron beam have been extensively applied to the life science research recently. These techniques provide new information about the atomic and molecular level free-volume and void sizes, and their distributions 0.1 nm to a few nm, molecular bonding, structures at depth-layers, and phase transitions. This paper is to review recent research on positron annihilation spectroscopy applied to the area of life science and also focus on current bioscience-related work in the positron group at the University of MissouriKansas City (UMKC).

Positron lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) is employed to study retained vacancies in Fe75Al25 and Fe70Al25X5 X= (Cr, Ni) after various thermal treatments. The PALS spectra were analyzed with the two states trapping model. The positron lifetime in defects suggests that they are Fe-monovacancies. The vacancy concentration, determined by the rates of trapping positrons to vacancies, strongly depends on the cooling rate of the sample and the ternary addition. An addition of Cr lowers, whereas an addition of Ni increases the concentration of the retained vacancies in relation to Fe75Al25 samples after the same heat treatment.

A slow-positron beam system for in-situ positron lifetime measurements during ion beam irradiation is currently under development in order to obtain fundamental information on radiation-induced defects. The system uses a high-intensity positron beam generated through pair-creation by a 70 MeV electron beam from a linear accelerator. The system has typical pulsing electrodes for chopping and bunching positrons. The incident directions of positrons and ions are 0° and 45° to the surface normal of samples, respectively. H, He and inert-gas ions up to 150 keV can be introduced to a target chamber with the irradiation temperature variable from room temperature to 600 °C. In a preliminary examination of the beamlines, 150 keV Ar+, electrons from a photocathode and positrons from a radioisotope were successfully transported to the target chamber from their respective sources. In addition, in-situ lifetime measurements using the existing positron beamline were demonstrated.

A new and unique setup for Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy has been established and optimized at the superconducting linear electron accelerator ELBE at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (Germany). The intense, pulsed (26 MHz) photon source (bremsstrahlung with energies up to 16 MeV) is used to generate positrons by means of pair production throughout the entire sample volume. Due to the very short gamma bunches (< 5 ps temporal length), the facility for Gamma-induced Positron Spectroscopy (GiPS) is suitable for positron lifetime spectroscopy using the accelerator’s radiofrequency as time reference. Positron lifetime and Doppler broadening Spectroscopy are employed by a coincident measurement (Age–Momentum Correlation) of the time-of-arrival and energy of the annihilation photons which in turn significantly reduces the background of scattered photons resulting in spectra with high signal to background ratios. Simulations of the setup using the GEANT4 framework have been performed to yield optimum positron generation rates for various sample materials and improved background conditions.

A technique for determining the sizes of vacancies and pores in metals by positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) in the angstrom and nanometer ranges is proposed. Following the proposed technique, the radii of vacancy-type defects in iron are estimated. The obtained results are of special interest for research programs in which properties of critical engineering materials [49–55] are studied using beams of slow positrons at positron facilities (see Research Program at the LEPTA Facility, I. Meshkov for LEPTA collaboration).

A small difference between the energies of the para-positronium (p-Ps) and ortho-positronium (o-Ps) states suggests the possibility of the superposition of p-Ps and o-Ps during the formation of positronium (Ps) from pre-Ps, terminating its migration in the matter in a void. It is shown that such a superposition decoheres in the basis of p-Ps and o-Ps. The decoherence time scale estimated here motivates a correction in the precise analysis of the positron annihilation lifetime spectra. More generally, the superposited Ps state should contribute to the theory of the evolution of positronium in matter.

Positron annihilation technique is a well known technique to characterize the defects in a material. These defects can be identified by positron annihilation lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening of positron annihilation radiation measurement. In this chapter we report the room temperature positron annihilation lifetime for single crystalline ZnO. From our study it is confirmed that the present crystal contains VZn–hydrogen complexes with low open volumes. Another important nuclear solid technique is the Mossbauer Spectroscopic technique which has been used to probe the local magnetic properties of a solid. Here we have summarized Mossbauer spectroscopic studies on ferrites.

Existing positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) uses the orthopositronium components, lifetimes, and intensities observed in molecular substrates, such as in polymers, to determine free-volume properties based on an infinitive potential spherical model originally proposed by Tao in 1972. However, in many molecular systems, positronium is either quenched or inhibited by interacting with chemical functional groups and leads to no or nearly no orthopositronium component in PALS. In this Article, a newly modified equation is developed by following the Tao’s quantum model using the positron component (not orthopositronium) of PALS. This modified equation is examined by fitting free-volume results obtained from o-Ps lifetimes with the positron lifetimes in pressure- and temperature-dependent data in polymers and calibrated with known or calculated cavity sizes in zeolite materials. A newly modified positron lifetime-free volume correlation equation is established for the determination of free volume...

Computer simulation using GEANT4 codes indicates an enhancement of the fraction of implanted positrons stopped in the denser regions of a layered sample. However, positron lifetime measurements performed for layers of pure aluminum, silver and gold foils do not reveal this effect, indicating instead that backscattering plays an important role in determining the positron implantation profile in layered and/or heterogeneous samples.

Native defects in complex oxides play a crucial role in determining their optical, electrical, and magnetic properties and it is di cult to identify and characterize them. Positron lifetime spectroscopy is a powerful technique to study vacancy defects; however its application to complex oxides has been limited. In this work we apply positron lifetime spectroscopy to study open volume defects in rare earth doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) complex oxides grown in argon atmosphere. In YAG single crystals, positron lifetime measurements identi ed isolated aluminum vacancies and complexes of aluminum vacancy and neighbor oxygen vacancies. Thermoluminescence measurements were also performed to elucidate the interaction between trapping defects and luminescence centers. By combining positron lifetime and thermoluminescence, both the defect type and its e ect on the optical properties of YAG crystals were revealed.

The defect structure of Fe28Al samples is examined with the Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy. The studies are carried out for samples in as-cast state and after heat treatments: annealing for 24 hours at 900°C (or 1050°C) and either slow cooling with furnace or quenching to oil. The PALS spectra are analyzed using two-state trapping model. Only one type of defects is detected. The positron lifetime in these defects (V) suggests that they are quenched-in Fe-monovacancies (VFe). The vacancy concentration strongly depends on the rate of cooling. Besides, V also depends slightly on the rate of cooling of the material. This fact suggests, according to the predictions of latest theoretical calculations, that V is sensitive to the atomic configuration in the nearest neighborhood of VFe, which give hope to estimate the degree of atomic ordering in alloys by the PALS technique.

The superconducting electron accelerator ELBE (Electron Linac with high Brilliance and low Emittance) at the Research Centre Dresden-Rossendorf (Germany) serves as a high-intensity bremsstrahlung photon-source delivering a pulsed beam (26 MHz) with very short bunches (

Bulk cobalt silicides Co2Si, CoSi and CoSi2 have been investigated using experimental positron lifetime, coincidence Doppler broadening and depth-resolved positron beam studies. Psitron lifetime and coincidence Doppler ratio curves have shown distinct features for the silicides as compared to that of pure Co and Si. Ab-initio calculations of positron life time have been carried out using the DOPPLER program. The experimental positron lifetime values are higher than the theoretical estimates for Co2Si and CoSi2, suggesting that these silicides contain vacancy defects. This is further supported by positron diffusion lengths deduced from the VEPFIT analysis of positron beam results. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The paper presents theoretical and experimental studies of the positron implantation profiles in layered samples. The Monte Carlo simulations performed using the GEANT4 toolkit reveal accumulation of positrons in the denser layer embedded between two less dense layers. That effect is significant not only for low energy positrons at slow monoenergetic positron beams but also for high energy positrons which are emitted from radioactive nuclei in conventional experiments. Measurements of the positron implantation profile into the samples which consist of silver and aluminium foils of different thickness show profile features which correspond well with those simulated by the GEANT4 toolkit for examined cases. We propose to call this phenomenon the accumulation effect of energetic positrons.

The two-component density functional theory is applied to the study of the thermalized positron state in simulated structures of hydrogenated amorphous silicon. Results show that positron properties in bulk and ad hoc defect structures are sensitive to the defect free-volume. Using the normalized positron density, it is determined that the thermalized positron state is weakly localized at hydrogen-decorated vacancy-like complexes, and not at microscopic open volume defects. These defect complexes form as clusters of hydrogen-passivated dangling bonds. It is also found that hydrogen enhances the delocalization of positron density in the simulated structures. The relevance of the present results to the interpretation of actual positron lifetime spectroscopy in real materials is discussed.

Positron annihilation is an established technique for investigating vacancy-type defects in semiconductors. When a positron is implanted into solids, it annihilates with an electron and emits two 511 keV γ quanta. From measurements of Doppler broadening spectra of the annihilation radiation and the positron lifetimes, one can detect vacancy-type defects such as monovacancies and divacancies. We used monoenergetic positron beams to study vacancies in ion-implanted and rare-earth-doped GaN. We identified the defect species and estimated their concentrations from a comparison between the Doppler broadening spectra obtained through the experiments and those calculated using first-principles calculation (projector augmented-wave method). We have thus shown that positron annihilation is a useful tool for studying relationships between vacancy-type defects and properties of group-III nitrides.

Positron annihilation gamma energy distribution, lifetime spectroscopy and time-of-flight method were used to study surfactant-templated mesoporous silica films deposited on glass. The lifetime depth profiling was correlated to Doppler broadening and 3γ annihilation fraction measurements to determine the annihilation characteristics inside the films. A set of consistent fingerprints for positronium annihilation, o-Ps reemission into vacuum, and pore size was directly determined. The lifetime measurements were performed in reflection mode with a specially designed lifetime spectrometer mounted on a slow positron beam system. The intensity of the 142 ns vacuum lifetime component was recorded as a function of the energy of the positron beam. In a film with high porosity a reemission efficiency of as high as 40 % was found at low positron energy. Positron lifetime in samples capped by a thin silica layer was used to determine the pore size. The energy of the reemitted o-Ps fraction was measured by a time-of-flight detector, mounted on the same system, allowing determination of both o-Ps re-emission efficiency and energy in the same sample. We demonstrate the potential of the simultaneous use of different positron annihilation techniques in the study of thin porous films.

The point defects of B2-type intermetallic compound Ni-Al have been investigated as a function of different Ni compositions ranging from 47 to 55 at.% by means of positron lifetime and coincidence Doppler-broadening (CDB) measurements. The position lifetime of the annealed samples, expressed by single-component lifetime of tau = 170-180 ps, indicates positron saturation trapping at single vacancies in Ni-Al samples. The CDB measurements have been applied to identify these vacancy-type defects formed on the Ni sublattice in the B2-phase Ni-Al alloys. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recent advances in the study of quasicrystals (QC's) and their related materials (crystalline approximants) by using positron annihilation spectroscopy are reviewed. We describe how a series of positron annihilation spectroscopy has been applied for the studies of aperiodic QC's. Positron lifetime measurements revealed the presence of high concentration of structural vacancies giving rise to saturation trapping for QC's and approximants studied. Chemical environments around the structural vacancies were successfully clarified by coincident Doppler broadening measurements. In addition, the concentrations of structural vacancies were estimated by analyzing the positron diffusion data obtained by a slow positron beam under the saturation trapping condition. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

High-dielectric constant (high-k) gate materials, such as HfSiOx and HfAlOx, fabricated by atomic-layer-deposition techniques were characterized using monoenergetic positron beams. Measurements of the Doppler broadening spectra of annihilation radiation and the lifetime spectra of positrons indicated that positrons annihilated from the trapped state by open volumes that exist intrinsically in amorphous structures of the films. The size distributions of the open volumes and the local atomic configurations around such volumes can be discussed using positron annihilation parameters, and they were found to correlate with the electrical properties of the films. We confirmed that the positron annihilation is useful technique to characterize the matrix structure of amorphous high-k materials, and can be used to determine process parameters for the fabrication of high-k gate dielectrics. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy has been used to study the formation of positronium in high density polyethylene as a function of temperature over the range 30 K-350 K. It is observed that the thermal history of the sample, while having no influence on the positronium lifetime, has a strong effect on the formation of positronium. A hysteresis is seen in the positronium formation probability in cooling and heating cycles. This is explained on a two channel formation model, the first channel being through “blob” formation and the second through the pick-up of shallow trapped electrons. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)