Resolution of the orthopositronium-lifetime puzzle

The long-standing discrepancy [G. S. Adkins, R. N. Fell, and J. Sapirstein, Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 295, 136 (2002)]] between the theoretical calculations of the orthopositronium (o-Ps) annihilation decay rate (lambda(T)=1/lifetime) and some of the experimental measurements has been resolved. A focused be...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters Vol. 90; no. 20; p. 203402
Main Authors: Vallery, R S, Zitzewitz, P W, Gidley, D W
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 23-05-2003
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The long-standing discrepancy [G. S. Adkins, R. N. Fell, and J. Sapirstein, Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 295, 136 (2002)]] between the theoretical calculations of the orthopositronium (o-Ps) annihilation decay rate (lambda(T)=1/lifetime) and some of the experimental measurements has been resolved. A focused beam of positrons incident on a special nanoporous silica film produces near-thermal energy o-Ps in vacuum that is slow enough to be virtually free of perturbing interactions. The fitted decay rate requires only a 500 ppm correction for nonthermal o-Ps effects. The new value of lambda(T)=7.0404(10)(8) micros(-1) is in excellent agreement with theory.
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content type line 23
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.90.203402