Crossed beam measurement of binding energies of positronium compounds : a preliminary study

We describe an experimental method which will enable one to establish the chemical stability and measure the binding energies of compounds containing positronium atoms. The method consists of crossing a monoenergetic beam of very low energy (1 - 25 eV) positrons with a supersonic expansion molecular beam, and detecting a signature ion while measuring its kinetic energy. Except for the use of a positron beam instead of an electron beam, this is conventional MS/IKES (mass spectrometry/ion kinetic energy spectrometry), and the process involved is dissociative attachment