Optical spectroscopy of molecular positronium

We report optical spectroscopic measurements of molecular positronium (Ps(2)), performed via a previously unobserved L=1 excited state. Ps(2) molecules created in a porous silica film, and also in vacuum from an Al(111) crystal, were resonantly excited and then photoionized by pulsed lasers, providi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2012-03, Vol.108 (13), p.133402-133402, Article 133402
Main Authors: Cassidy, D B, Hisakado, T H, Tom, H W K, Mills, Jr, A P
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We report optical spectroscopic measurements of molecular positronium (Ps(2)), performed via a previously unobserved L=1 excited state. Ps(2) molecules created in a porous silica film, and also in vacuum from an Al(111) crystal, were resonantly excited and then photoionized by pulsed lasers, providing conclusive evidence for the production of this molecular matter-antimatter system and its excited state. Future experiments making use of the photoionized vacuum L=1 Ps(2) could provide a source of Ps(+) ions, as well as other multipositronic systems, such as Ps(2)H(-) or Ps(2)O.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.133402