Photodetachment of the Positronium Negative Ion with Excitation in the Positronium Atom

Lyman-α radiation ( 2 P → 1 S ) has been seen from astrophysical sources and the sun. The line shape of this transition has been measured recently in Ps atoms both inside and outside a porous silica target. In the photodetachment of Ps−, the residual Ps atom can be left in the 2P state instead of the 1S state giving rise to positronium Lyman radiation at 2432 A0. Photodetachment cross sections of Ps− have been calculated when the Ps atom is left in nP states, n being 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, using the asymptotic form of the bound-state wave function and a plane wave for the final state wave function, following the approach of Ohmura and Ohmura [Phys. Rev. 1960, 118, 154] in the photodetachment of H−.