We report total cross sections for positron scattering from two primary alcohols, methanol $\left(\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_3\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}\right)$ and ethanol $\left({\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{O}\mathrm{H}\right)$. The energy range of the present study is $0.1–40\mathrm{eV}$. The ethanol measurement appears to be original while for methanol we compare our data to the only previous result from Kimura and colleagues [Adv. Chem. Phys. 111, 537 (2000)], with a significant discrepancy between them being found at the lower energies. Positronium formation threshold energies for both species, deduced from the present respective total cross section data sets, are found to be consistent with those expected on the basis of their known ionization energies. There are currently no theoretical results against which we can compare our total cross sections.

• Received 26 June 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.78.022703