Abstract
Autoionization of positrons occurs as a fundamentally new process of quantum electrodynamics, if empty 1s- or 2p 1/2− etc. electronic shells obtain binding energies larger than 2m e c 2. This effect should be experimentally observable in the scattering of very heavy ions (Z≧80) on each other since in such collisions superheavy electronic molecules are formed (superheavy quasi-molecules). The scattering mechanism and the distribution of autoionization positrons are discussed. The adiabaticity of the heavy ion collision is studied and the electron-positron pair production background to the ionization problem is estimated. Analytic solutions are obtained for 1/r-potentials for the caseZα≧1. The phase shifts of negative energy solutions in the case of cutoff Coulomb potentials reveal the accuracy of the autoionization formalism.
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This work has been supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Wissenschaft and by the GSI.
We acknowledge interesting discussions with P. Armbruster, M. Danos, R. Diamond, A. Ghiorso, P. Kienle, B. Povh, F. S. Stephens, Ch. Schmelzer, G. T. Seaborg, G. Soff and W. Swiatecki. Our special thanks belong to Mr. G. Soff for helping us in several numerical calculations.
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Müller, B., Rafelski, J. & Greiner, W. Auto-ionization of positrons in heavy ion collisions. Z. Physik 257, 183–211 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01401203
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01401203