Simultaneous ionization and excitation of molecules by positron impact

Phys Rev Lett. 2010 Feb 19;104(7):073201. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.073201. Epub 2010 Feb 19.

Abstract

Cross sections for ionization excitation of molecules by positron impact have been measured for the first time by scattering a positron beam from CO2 and N2. The cross sections have been observed to exceed those for electron impact by up to a factor of approximately 3 for CO2 and approximately 5 for N2. The enhancement arises primarily via positronium formation. The cross sections account for up to approximately 12% and 20% of the total cross sections for positron scattering from N2 and CO2, respectively.