Positron interactions with high-Z atoms at relativistic energies

Creators: Butler, M. N.; Chu, M.-C.; Koonin, S. E.; Piekarewicz, J.

Abstract

We consider the interaction of a positron with a bound electron of a high-Z atom. In particular, we present relativistic calculations of the cross sections for knockout and/or positronium formation in a thorium target, as well as an internal process in a hypothetical Z=164 "atom." Both plane-wave and distorted-wave Born approximations are discussed. We find peaks in the final sum energy of the electron-positron pairs due to the momentum distribution of the atomic electron. However, these peaks are too low in energy and are too broad compared with peaks claimed in e+e- scattering or with the anomalous positron peaks in heavy-ion experiments.

Additional Information

©1988 The American Physical Society. Received 22 March 1988. We would like to thank Dr. V. Pönisch and Dr. A. Schäfer for useful discussions. One of us (M.-C.C.) thanks the Institut für Theoretische Physik der Universität Frankfurt for their hospitality and Dr. T. Elze for helpful discussions. Most of the numerical computation was done on the NSF/SDSC Cray X/MP computer; the assistance of the San Diego Supercomputer Center is appreciated. This work is supported partially by NSF Grant Nos. PHY-86-04197 and PHY-85-05682. One of us (M.N.B.) is grateful for financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

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