Positronic Atoms - A Search for Positron Bound States

Recent theoretical calculations have suggested positron binding to some atomic species. Observation of positron binding is a long standing goal of experimental positron physics and has been hampered by the lack of high resolution positron beam sources. A new high resolution positron beam has recently been constructed in Australia, and will be used to measure high resolution ( about 10 meV), low energy (0-20 eV) total, elastic and positronium formation cross sections for positron scattering from selected atoms and molecules, in search for the signature of positron bound states.