Positron Spectroscopy of Solids

The lifetime of a positron inside a solid is normally less than a fraction of nanosecond. This is a very short time on a human scale, but is long enough to enable the positron to visit an extended region of the material, and to sense the atomic and electronic structure of the environment. Thus, we can inject a positron in a sample to draw from it some signal giving us information on the microscopic properties of the material. This idea has been successfully developed in a number of positron-based techniques of physical analysis, with resolution in energy, momentum, or position. The complex of these techniques is what we call now positron spectroscopy of solids. The field of application of the positron spectroscopy extends from advanced problems of solid-state physics to industrial applications in the area of characterization of high-tech materials. This volume focuses the attention on the physics that can be learned from positron-based methods, but also frames those methods in a wider context including other experimental approaches. It can be considered as a textbook on positron spectroscopy of solids, the sort of book that the newcomer takes for his approach to this field, but also as a useful research tool for the expert. 'The reviewed book presents a very good review of knowledge about modern applications of positron annihilation spectroscopy to the research of structure and properties of solids. It also frames positron methods in a wider context including other experimental approaches. A number of illustrative figures contributes to quick understanding of the subject. The book will be a very useful research tool and reference not only for specialists in materials science and solid state physics who are engaged in positron annihilation research, but it may also be recommended as an excellent introduction for a newcomer.' - Dr. M. Sob, Institute of Physics of Materials, Zizkova, Czech RepublicDupasquier, A. is the author of 'Positron Spectroscopy of Solids' with ISBN 9789051992038 and ISBN 9051992033.