Binding Matter with Antimatter: The Covalent Positron Bond

We report sufficient theoretical evidence of the energy stability of the e+⋅H22− molecule, formed by two H− anions and one positron. Analysis of the electronic and positronic densities of the latter compound undoubtedly points out the formation of a positronic covalent bond between the otherwise rep...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018-07, Vol.57 (29), p.8859-8864
Main Authors: Charry, Jorge, Varella, Márcio T. do N., Reyes, Andrés
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ab initio calculations
Affinity
Anions
Antimatter
bond energy
Covalence
Covalent bonds
Electron affinity
Molecular chains
positron chemistry
quantum chemistry
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Summary:We report sufficient theoretical evidence of the energy stability of the e+⋅H22− molecule, formed by two H− anions and one positron. Analysis of the electronic and positronic densities of the latter compound undoubtedly points out the formation of a positronic covalent bond between the otherwise repelling hydride anions. The lower limit for the bonding energy of the e+⋅H22− molecule is 74 kJ mol−1 (0.77 eV), accounting for the zero‐point vibrational correction. The formation of a non electronic covalent bond is fundamentally distinct from positron attachment to stable molecules, as the latter process is characterized by a positron affinity, analogous to the electron affinity. The antiparticle of the electron is responsible for the bonding of the otherwise repelling hydride anions, forming the energetically stable e+⋅H22− molecule, where the lowest energy channel is the dissociation into H− and e+H−(PsH). This is evidenced by the accumulation of positron density between nuclei.
ISSN:1433-7851
1521-3773
DOI:10.1002/anie.201800914