Positronium in a liquid phase: formation, bubble state and chemical reactions

TL;DR

This paper reviews the formation, behavior, and reactions of positronium in liquids, focusing on energy deposition, bubble models, and chemical reactions relevant to condensed media.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive synthesis of models and experimental data on positronium in liquids, including formation mechanisms, bubble states, and reaction dynamics.

Findings

Analysis of positronium formation mechanisms in liquids

Development of bubble models for positronium

Insights into positronium reactions and annihilation rates

Abstract

This chapter reviews the following items: 1. Energy deposition and track structure of fast positrons: ionization slowing down, number of ion-electron pairs, typical sizes, thermalization, electrostatic interaction between e+ and its blob, effect of local heating; 2. Positronium formation in condensed media: the Ore model, quasifree Ps state, intratrack mechanism of Ps formation; 3. Fast intratrack diffusion-controlled reactions: Ps oxidation and ortho-para conversion by radiolytic products, reaction rate constants, interpretation of the PAL spectra in water at different temperatures; 4. Ps bubble models. "Non-point" positronium: wave function, energy contributions, relationship between the pick-off annihilation rate and the bubble radius.