Surface Studies with Slow Positron Beaks

Slow-positron physics is an exciting and rapidly advancing field. The continuing progress in the development of intense monochromatic beams of low-energy positrons has made it possible to perform a number of landmark experiments, where the interaction of the positron with solid surfaces plays a central role. These experiments either deal with fundamental atomic physics (positronium spectroscopy) or focus on the electronic and atomic properties of the surface region, using positrons as a probe. In the former category, the surface is involved just as an efficient source of positronium-like atoms. On the other hand, in the second category of experiments the surface i s the main object of study…