Abstract
Single-shot positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (SSPALS) is an extremely useful tool for experiments involving the positronium atom (Ps). I examine some of the methods that are typically employed to analyse lifetime spectra, and use a Monte-Carlo simulation to explore the advantages and limitations these have in laser spectroscopy experiments, such as resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) or the production of Rydberg Ps.
Highlights
Positronium (Ps) [1] is the bound state of an electron and a positron
This facilitates precision positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) [8, 9] – a simple but powerful technique that was instrumental in the discovery of positronium by Deutsch in 1951 [10]
The effect upon Single-shot positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (SSPALS) spectra is an annihilation excess that is approximately coincident with the laser pulses, followed by a depletion of the delayed annihilation events associated with ground-state o-Ps
Summary
Positronium (Ps) [1] is the bound state of an electron and a positron. In vacuum, the components of the particle-antiparticle pair will annihilate with each other. A scintillator coupled to a photomultiplier tube (PMT) can be used to efficiently detect gamma rays with subns timing resolution [7] This facilitates precision positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) [8, 9] – a simple but powerful technique that was instrumental in the discovery of positronium by Deutsch in 1951 [10]. To measure a PALS spectrum each annihilation event must be resolvable in the time domain, which is generally not possible with ns Ps sources. In this case, single-shot positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (SSPALS) [21] can be implemented instead. I use the simulations to examine how laser excitation of Ps can affect a lifetime spectrum and compare the results with experimental data
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