On the localization of positrons in metal vacancies

Abstract

The probability of localization of positrons in single vacancies of Al, Cu, and Zn as a function of temperature has been calculated. Vacancy has been simulated by a cavity with a radius of the Wigner–Seitz cell in the stabilized jellium model. A formula for the rate of trapping of a positron by a vacancy as a function of the positron energy has been obtained using the “golden” rule for transitions under the assumption that the positron energy is spent on excitation of electron–hole pairs. The temperature dependence of the localization rate has been calculated for thermalized positrons. It has been found that, in the vicinity of the triple point, the localization rate is close in order of magnitude to the annihilation rate. Based on the results reported in our previous publications devoted to the evaluation of the influence of vacancies on the work function of free positrons, it has been assumed that, near the surface of the metal, there are vacancies charged by positrons. In the approximation of a two-dimensional superlattice, the near-surface vacancy barrier has been estimated. The experimentally revealed shift of the energy distribution of re-emitted positrons has been assumed to be caused by the reflection of low-energy positrons from the vacancy barrier back into the bulk of the metal where they annihilate.