arXiv subjects

D. G. Green

Publications and source records attributed to D. G. Green.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Comment on "Gamma-ray spectra from low-energy positron annihilation processes in molecules"

In the article by Ma~\emph{et al.}~[Phys.~Rev.~A {\bf 94}, 052709 (2016)], $γ$-ray spectra for positron annihilation on molecules were calculated in the independent-particle approximation with the positron wavefunction set to unity. Based on comparisons with experimental data they concluded that inner valence electrons play a dominant role in positron annihilation. These conclusions are incorrect and resulted from fallacious analysis that ignored the known effect of the positron wavefunction on the spectra.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2015

Positron annihilation with core and valence electrons

$γ$-ray spectra for positron annihilation with the core and valence electrons of the noble gas atoms Ar, Kr and Xe is calculated within the framework of diagrammatic many-body theory. The effect of positron-atom and short-range positron-electron correlations on the annihilation process is examined in detail. Short-range correlations, which are described through non-local corrections to the vertex of the annihilation amplitude, are found to significantly enhance the spectra for annihilation on the core orbitals. For Ar, Kr and Xe, the core contributions to the annihilation rate are found to be 0.55\%, 1.5\% and 2.2\% respectively, their small values reflecting the difficulty for the positron to probe distances close to the nucleus. Importantly however, the core subshells have a broad momentum distribution and markedly contribute to the annihilation spectra at Doppler energy shifts $\gtrsim3$\,keV, and even dominate the spectra of Kr and Xe at shifts $\gtrsim5$\,keV. Their inclusion brings the theoretical spectra into excellent agreement with the experimental $γ$-spectra across the full range of Doppler energy shifts. Additionally, the theory enables the calculation of the `exact' vertex enhancement factors $\barγ_{n\ell}$ for individual core and valence subshells $n\ell$. They are found to follow a simple and physically motivated scaling with the subshell ionization energy $I_{n\ell}$: $\barγ_{n\ell}=1+\sqrt{A/I_{n\ell}}+(B/I_{n\ell})^β$, where $A$, $B$ and $β$ are positive constants. It is demonstrated that these factors can be incorporated in simple independent-particle-model calculations to successfully reconstruct the true many-body annihilation $γ$-spectra. This formula can be used to determine the enhancement factors for positron annihilation with core electrons of atoms across the periodic table and condensed matter systems.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2015

$γ$-ray spectra and enhancement factors for positron annihilation spectra with core-electrons

Many-body theory is developed to calculate the $γ$-spectra for positron annihilation with valence and core electrons in the noble gas atoms. A proper inclusion of correlation effects and core annihilation provides for an accurate description of the measured spectra [Iwata \textit{et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 79}, 39 (1997)]. The theory enables us to calculate the enhancement factors $γ_{nl}$, which describe the effect of electron-positron correlations for annihilation on individual electron orbitals $nl$. We find that the enhancement factors scale with the orbital ionization energy $I_{nl}$ (in electron-volt), as $γ_{nl}=1+\sqrt{A/I_{nl}}+(B/I_{nl})^β$, where $A\approx 40$~eV, $B\approx 24$~eV and $β\approx 2.3$.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2014

SIMLA: Simulating laser-particle interactions via classical and quantum electrodynamics

We present the Fortran code SIMLA, which is designed for the study of charged particle dynamics in laser and other background fields. This can be done classically via the Landau-Lifshitz equation, or alternatively, via the simulation of photon emission events determined by strong-field quantum-electrodynamics amplitudes and implemented using Monte-Carlo type routines. Multiple laser fields can be included in the simulation and the propagation direction, beam shape (plane wave, focussed paraxial, constant crossed, or constant magnetic), and time envelope of each can be independently specified.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2014

Positron scattering and annihilation on noble gas atoms

Positron scattering and annihilation on noble gas atoms below the positronium formation threshold is studied ab initio using many-body theory methods. The many-body theory provides a near-complete understanding of the positron-noble-gas-atom system at these energies and yields accurate numerical results. It accounts for positron-atom and electron-positron correlations, e.g., polarization of the atom by the incident positron and the non-perturbative process of virtual positronium formation. These correlations have a large effect on the scattering dynamics and result in a strong enhancement of the annihilation rates compared to the independent-particle mean-field description. Computed elastic scattering cross sections are found to be in good agreement with recent experimental results and Kohn variational and convergent close-coupling calculations. The calculated values of the annihilation rate parameter $Z_{\rm eff}$ (effective number of electrons participating in annihilation) rise steeply along the sequence of noble gas atoms due to the increasing strength of the correlation effects, and agree well with experimental data.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2014

Transverse spreading of electrons in high-intensity laser fields

We show that for collisions of electrons with a high-intensity laser, discrete photon emissions introduce a transverse beam spread which is distinct from that due to classical (or beam shape) effects. Via numerical simulations, we show that this quantum induced transverse momentum gain of the electron is manifest in collisions with a realistic laser pulse of intensity within reach of current technology, and we propose it as a measurable signature of strong-field quantum electrodynamics.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Positron scattering and annihilation in hydrogen-like ions

Diagrammatic many-body theory is used to calculate the scattering phase shifts, normalized annihilation rates $Z_{\rm eff}$ and annihilation gamma spectra for positron collisions with the hydrogen-like ions He$^+$, Li$^{2+}$, B$^{4+}$ and F$^{8+}$. Short-range electron-positron correlations and longer-range positron-ion correlations are accounted for by evaluating nonlocal corrections to the annihilation vertex and the exact positron self-energy. The numerical calculation of the many-body theory diagrams is performed using B-spline basis sets. To elucidate the rôle of the positron-ion repulsion, the annihilation rate is also estimated analytically in the Coulomb-Born approximation. It is found that the energy dependence and magnitude of $Z_{\rm eff}$ is governed by the Gamow factor that characterizes the suppression of the positron wave function near the ion. For all of the H-like ions, the correlation enhancement of the annihilation rate is found to be predominantly due to corrections to the annihilation vertex, while the corrections to the positron wave function play only a minor rôle. Results of the calculations for $s$, $p$ and d-wave incident positrons of energies up to the positronium formation threshold are presented. Where comparison is possible, our values are in excellent agreement with the results obtained using other, e.g., variational, methods. The annihilation vertex enhancement factors obtained in the present calculations are found to scale approximately as $1+(1.6+0.46\ell)/Z_i$, where $Z_i$ is the net charge of the ion and $\ell$ is the positron orbital angular momentum. Our results for positron annihilation in H-like ions provide insights into the problem of positron annihilation with core electrons in atoms and condensed matter systems, which have similar binding energies.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2012

Effect of positron-atom interactions on the annihilation gamma spectra of molecules

Calculations of gamma spectra for positron annihilation on a selection of molecules, including methane and its fluoro-substitutes, ethane, propane, butane and benzene are presented. The annihilation gamma spectra characterise the momentum distribution of the electron-positron pair at the instant of annihilation. The contribution to the gamma spectra from individual molecular orbitals is obtained from electron momentum densities calculated using modern computational quantum chemistry density functional theory tools. The calculation, in its simplest form, effectively treats the low-energy (thermalised, room-temperature) positron as a plane wave and gives annihilation gamma spectra that are about 40% broader than experiment, although the main chemical trends are reproduced. We show that this effective "narrowing" of the experimental spectra is due to the action of the molecular potential on the positron, chiefly, due to the positron repulsion from the nuclei. It leads to a suppression of the contribution of small positron-nuclear separations where the electron momentum is large. To investigate the effect of the nuclear repulsion, as well as that of short-range electron-positron and positron-molecule correlations, a linear combination of atomic orbital description of the molecular orbitals is employed. It facilitates the incorporation of correction factors which can be calculated from atomic many-body theory and account for the repulsion and correlations. Their inclusion in the calculation gives gamma spectrum linewidths that are in much better agreement with experiment. Furthermore, it is shown that the effective distortion of the electron momentum density, when it is observed through positron annihilation gamma spectra, can be approximated by a relatively simple scaling factor.

physics.atom-ph↗