An energy tunable continuous 23S1 positronium beam.

Area of Science:

• Atomic Physics
• Quantum Mechanics
• Positronium Spectroscopy

Background:

• Positronium (Ps) is a fundamental leptonic atom.
• Precision spectroscopy of Ps provides insights into fundamental physics.
• Generating Ps beams in specific quantum states is crucial for advanced experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally produce a beam of 23S1 positronium (Ps) atoms.
• To characterize the properties of the generated Ps beam, including angular divergence and state population.
• To assess the feasibility of using this Ps beam for precision spectroscopy of the n=2 fine structure.

Main Methods:

• Positron beam interacting with Xenon gas in a cell for charge-exchange collisions.
• Position sensitive detectors used to measure angular divergence.
• Microwave radiation applied to drive the 23S1 → 23P2 transition to measure the 23S1 state fraction.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced a beam of positronium atoms.
• Measured the angular divergence of the Ps beam.
• Determined that up to 10% of the Ps beam can be formed in the 23S1 state under optimal conditions.

Conclusions:

• The experimental production of a 23S1 Ps beam is demonstrated.
• The measured beam properties suggest feasibility for precision spectroscopy.
• Further research using Ramsey interferometry on the n=2 Ps fine structure is supported by this work.