Detection of positron-atom bound states through resonant annihilation

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to detect positron-atom bound states by observing resonant annihilation at specific energies, applicable to various transition metal atoms likely to bind positrons.

Contribution

It introduces a novel detection technique based on electronic Feshbach resonances for identifying positron-atom bound states in open-shell transition metals.

Findings

Method applicable to multiple transition metals.

Estimates of binding energies provided.

Enhanced annihilation signals at resonant energies.

Abstract

A method is proposed for detecting positron-atom bound states by observing enhanced positron annihilation due to electronic Feshbach resonances at electron-volt energies. The method is applicable to a range of open-shell transition metal atoms which are likely to bind the positron: Fe, Co, Ni, Tc, Ru, Rh, Sn, Sb, Ta, W, Os, Ir, and Pt. Estimates of their binding energies are provided.