- Positronium hydride
Positronium hydride is a molecule consisting of an atom of
positronium , and one ofhydrogen . Its formula is PsH. It was predicted to exist in 1951 by A Ore, [J. Usukura, K. Varga, and Y. Suzuki, Signature of the existence of the positronium molecule, [http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/9804023v1] .] and subsequently studied theoretically, but was not observed until 1990. R. Pareja, R. Gonzalez from Madrid trapped positronium in hydrogen ladenmagnesia crystals. The trap was prepared by Yok Chen from theOak Ridge National Laboratory . [ [http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/accomplishments/files/BES_Accomp_FY1992.pdf page 9 "Out of This World" Chemical Compound Observed"] ] In 1992 it was created in an experiment done by David M. Schrader and F.M. Jacobsen and others at theAarhus University inDenmark . The researchers made the positronium hydride molecules by firing intense bursts of positrons intomethane , which has the highest density of hydrogen atoms. Upon slowing down, the positrons were captured by ordinary electrons to form positronium atoms which then reacted with hydrogen atoms from the methane. [Citation
last1 = Schrader | first1 = D. M.
last2 = Jacobson | first2 = Finn M.
last3 = Niels-Peter | first3= Niels-Peter
last4 = Mikkelsen | first4 = Ulrik
title = Formation of Positronium Hydride
journal = Physical Review Letters 69,57 (1992)
volume = 69
pages = 2880
date =1992-03-06
year = 1992
url = http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v69/p57
doi = 10.1103/PhysRevLett.69.57]PsH is constructed from one proton, two electrons, and one positron. The
binding energy is 1.1±0.2 eV. The lifetime of the molecule is 0.5nanosecond s.ee also
di-positronium References
External links
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