Electron and Positron Density Distribution of Bloch Waves

Abstract

The charge density distribution in the strongest Bloch waves for a dynamical many-beam diffraction situation was calculated for electrons and positrons. Near the [110] zone axis of MgO there exist three strong Bloch waves for electrons. One Bloch wave is concentrated at the rows of Mg-atoms, a second at the rows of O-atoms and a third one between the atoms. The positron Bloch waves are mainly concentrated between the atom rows and have only small charge density at the positions of the atoms. For an incident beam parallel to the [110] axis there exists only one strong positron Bloch wave while for electrons more than three Bloch waves are strong, explaining the channeling behaviour of positrons and electrons. Strong partial waves of different electron Bloch waves can be identified in the diffraction pattern from a MgO crystal wedge.