Using of slow positrons in various investigations – state of the art and perspectives

Slow positrons have become a unique probe in research of electronic structure of matter, in data acquisition on Fermi surface in metals and alloys, in studying of formation processes of structural and radiation defects in metals, semiconductors, polymers and nanocrystalline structures. First positron microscopes, PAES-spectrometers, positron ionization mass spectrometers and positron tomographs have been already created. In this paper results obtained by positron annihilation method in different research fields and possibilities of future progress in obtaining of high-intensity, high-brightness slow positron beams of variable energy are briefly discussed.