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Calculations based on two specific pulsar models show that in either case the 511 keV gamma-ray line from the galactic center can be explained as the as the result of the annihilation of positrons produced by pulsars.
New technique is expected to measure the moisture content and moisture depth distribution in fiber-reinforced polymeric composites. Technique is based on dependence of positron lifetime on moisture content of composite specimen. None of the previous non-destructive testing techniques measured moisture content and depth distribution simultaneously.
Experimental studies on the composition of cosmic rays are reviewed. Studies of elemental composition and time variation, Fe and near-Fe nuclei, trans-iron, high-energy spectra, antiprotons, isotopes, and electrons and positrons are discussed. Some theoretical studies of electrons are also considered.
A positronium-formation experiment with a high sensitivity to a possible relation between the helicity of beta particles emitted in nuclear beta decay and the optical asymmetry of biological molecules is presented. The experiment is based on a mechanism in which the electrons in optically active molecules possess a helicity of less than 0.001, too weak to detect in radiolysis experiments, the sign of which depends on the chirality of the isomer. A helicity-dependent asymmetry is sought in the formation of the triplet ground state of positronium when a low-energy beam of polarized positrons of reversible helicity interacts with an optically active substance coating a channel electron multiplier. Asymmetries between positronium decays observed at positive and negative helicities for the same substance can thus be determined with a sensitivity of 0.0001, which represents a factor of 100 improvement over previous positronium experiments.
Previous experiments undertaken in search of a correlation between the origin of optical activity in biological molecules and the helicity of beta particles emitted in nuclear beta decay have not provided any useful results. A description is presented of an experiment in which a low energy polarized positron beam of controlled helicity interacts with an optically active material to form positronium in vacuum. Advantages of the current study compared to the previous experiments are mainly related to a much greater sensitivity. Initially, it will be possible to detect a helicity-dependent asymmetry in triplet positronium formation of 1 part in 10,000. Improvements to better than 1 part in 100,000 should be attainable.
Topics address positron-electron pair production and annihilation phenomena in various astrophysical sources including galaxies and galactic nuclei, neutron stars, and cosmic background radiation.
High energy observations of the galactic center on the subparsec scale seem to be consistent with electron-positron production in the form of relativistic jets. These jets could be produced by an approximately 1,000,000 solar mass black hole dynamo transportating pairs away from the massive core. An electromagnetic cascade shower would develop first from ambient soft protons and then nonlinearly; the shower using itself as a scattering medium. This is suited to producing, cooling and transporting pairs to the observed annihilation region. It is possible the center of our galaxy is a miniature version of more powerful active galactic nuclei that exhibit jet activity.
For a satisfactory understanding of astrophysical annihilation radiation, especially that observed from the galactic center direction, the interaction of positrons with the ambient medium must be carefully investigated. Although hot, ionized regions may be important sources of annihilation radiation, the simpler processes occurring in low-temperature neutral hydrogen gas are mainly addressed. The goal is to set limits on conditions in the annihilation region by using the predictions of atomic theory compared with the observed gamma-ray line width, continuum strength and time dependence.
The paper presents a 10 keV to 1 MeV X-ray spectrum of Cyg X-1 in its low state, accumulated over 3 months in 1977 and 1978. The spectrum is smooth up to 300 keV. The excess at higher energy may be interpreted as a broad 511 keV emission line from the annihilation of positrons. The width and centroid of the line indicate that the temperature of the line-emitting region is 20-200 keV. The feature could also be caused by Comptonized emission from a 165 keV region.
Positron annihilation time spectra have been measured in nylon-6 samples as a function of their moisture content. The measured average long life component lifetime values are: 1722 + or - 47 ps (dry), 1676 + or - 40 ps (14.6 percent saturation value), 1719 + or - 26 ps (29.3 percent saturation value), 1720 + or - 35 ps (50 percent of saturation value), 1857 + or - 35 ps (78.1 percent saturation value), and 1936 + or - 57 ps (saturated). It appears that nylon-6 has a special affinity for water at low concentration levels where H2O molecules enter between the (C = O - H-N) chemical bonds between nylon molecular chains. As the water concentration increases beyond a critical level, nylon-6 specimens start trapping H2O molecules in other bond sites or potential wells. The trapped water increases the free volume in the test specimens and reduces Ps atom formation as well as its subsequent decay rate.
The HEAO 3 spacecraft's gamma-ray spectrometer has been used to obtain upper limits to the 511-keV electron-positron annihilation line flux from seven galaxies: M 81/M 82, NGC 4278, M 104, NGC 6500, NGC 2911, and NGC 262. These appear to contain scaled-up versions of the radio source in the galactic center, and their nonthermal activity appears to be confined to the central regions, implying that energetic particles produced in these nuclei do not escape into the low density regions of interstellar or intergalactic space. On the basis of the scaling law adopted, six of these seven galaxies should have been detected above the upper limits obtained for narrow 511 keV emission. Explanations are adduced which account for the scaling law's failure to predict the correct level of radiation annihilation.
Steady states of thermal electron-positron pair plasmas at mildly relativistic temperatures and in strong magnetic fields are investigated. The pair density in steady-state equilibrium, where pair production balances annihilation, is found as a function of temperature, magnetic field strength and source size, by a numerical calculation which includes pair production attenuation and Compton scattering of the photons. It is found that there is a maximum pair density for each value of temperature and field strength, and also a source size above which optically thin equilibrium states do not exist.
Positron lifetime measurements were made in copolyimides synthesized from linear 4,4 prime-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) diphenylsulfide dianhydride (BDSDA)/4,4 prime-diaminodiphenyl (ODA) and BDSDA/1,3-diaminobenzene (m-phenylene diamine) homopolymers. The probability of positronium formation as well as its subsequent lifetime are lower in the BDSDA/ODA/MPD (50-50) copolyimide, indicating the presence of a transition molecular architecture characterized by higher electron density and stronger bonds which permit both chemical as well as physical entry of water molecules into it. The presence of this transition region imparts unique physical and mechanical properties to the copolyimide.
Our balloon-borne germain gamma-ray telescope was flown over Alice Springs, Australia, on 1984 November 20 to search for the 511 keV positron annihilation line from the Galactic Center. The measured line flux at Earth was (0.6 + or - 4.4) x 0.001 ph/sq cm/s indicating that the source was still in a low or off state.
The positron data gathered in conjunction with electron data published elsewhere is reported. The basic recognition scheme was to look for low mass positive particles that cause a cascade in a 7 radiation length shower counter. The mass criteria is imposed by selecting particles that were accompanied by Cherenkov light but whose rigidity was below the proton Cherenkov threshold. Thus the proton Cherenkov threshold represents an upper limit to the range of the experiment.
A detailed calculation of the production spectra of charged hadrons produced by interactions of cosmic rays in the interstellar medium is presented along with a thorough treatment of pion and muon decays. Newly parameterized inclusive cross sections of hadrons were used and exact kinematic limitations were taken into account. Single parametrized expressions for the production spectra of both secondary positrons and electrons in the energy range .1 to 100 GeV are presented. The results are compared with other authors' predictions. Equilibrium spectra using various models are also presented.
Astrophysical sources of positron-electron-pair annihilation radiation are characterized in reviews and reports of observational and theoretical investigations. Topics examined include gamma-ray lines from solar flares, gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, the Galactic center, active galaxies, and physical processes in relativistic and magnetized plasmas. Spectra, historgrams, graphs, and diagrams are provided.
For a satisfactory understanding of astrophysical annihilation radiation, especially that observed from the Galactic center direction, the interaction of positrons with the ambient medium must be carefully investigated. Although hot, ionized regions may be important sources of annihilation radiation, the simpler processes occurring in low-temperature neutral hydrogen gas are mainly addressed. The goal is to set limits on conditions in the annihilation region by using the predictions of atomic theory compared with the observed gamma-ray line width, continuum strength and time dependence.