A Doppler-broadening facility for positron spin relaxation (e+SR) experiments

A set-up is described for the determination of the spin polarization of positrons emitted from radioactive sources that makes use of the dependence of the Doppler broadening of the 511 keV annihilation photon line on the strength and direction (with regard to the spin polarization) of an applied magnetic field. In the so-called e+SR (positron spin relaxation) technique the sample to be investigated is part of the e+-spin polarimeter. Its application to the investigation of positronium formation in condensed matter is illustrated using crystalline quartz as an example. The method earlier applied to the positron annihilation in magnetized ferromagnets is now transferred to the detection of positronium (Ps) in condensed matter. This new approach makes use of the fact, that the ratio of Ps atoms in the singlet and the triplet states is larger in a magnetic field applied parallel to the positron-spin polarization than in an antiparallel field.