An experiment to measure the 2(3)S(1) going to 2(3)P(J) transitions in positronium.

Abstract

The design of an experiment to perform precision measurements of the fine structure of n = 2 positronium is described. The experiment employs a novel laser-ionization technique to detect positronium in the 2$\sp3$S$\sb1$ state. This detection scheme promises to improve the detection efficiency by over two orders of magnitude when compared to previous methods. As a preliminary to the spectroscopy work a detailed study of the formation of n = 2 positronium has been performed. Most of the technology required by the spectroscopy experiment has been developed and tested and the steps required to successfully combine these components are outlined. Extensive calculations of the various important systematic effects have been performed including the Doppler and Zeeman effects as well as the DC, AC, and motional Stark effects. The expected shape of the resonance lines is also calculated from first principles.