Production of long-lived positronium states via laser excitation to 3³P level.

The 3³P state of positronium is an intermediate level suitable for producing long-lived positronium states. On one hand, it can be used in a two-step laser excitation scheme from the ground state to Rydberg levels. On the other hand, excitation of positronium to 3³P level is a simple pathway for producing metastable 2³S positronium atoms by spontaneous radiactive decay. In this work, experiments showing the production of such long-lived levels, using the 3³P state as intermediate state, are presented. The characteristics of the two long-lived levels, in view of experiments of deflectometry/interferometry with positronium, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]