Positron Plasmas in the Laboratory
Abstract
This grant supported work to develop efficient methods to accumulate low-energy positrons in the laboratory and to use the resulting positron plasmas for a range of scientific and technological applications. Techniques for trapping and manipulating positrons were refined and expanded. A new generation of positron accumulator was designed and built. It functions up to specifications, confining 3 x 10(exp 8) positrons at densities >- 10(exp 7)/cu cm. A new technique to create ultra-cold positron beams with these plasmas was used for new studies of the instabilities created when a cold electron beam is passed through a positron plasma. This cold beam technique has now been used for a wide range of novel positron scattering and annihilation experiments to study the interaction of low-energy positrons with atoms and molecules. A new high magnetic field, cryogenic positron storage trap was constructed and is being tested. Other accomplishments during the grant period include the development of a rotating electric field technique to radially compress positron plasmas. This, in turn, was enabled by the development of a method to cool the positrons with a polyatomic buffer gas. This cooling technique also provides new capabilities for the generation of cold positron beams operating at high repetition rates.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 20, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA400182
Entities
People
- C. M. Surko
Organizations
- University of California, San Diego