Self-trapping of positively charged particles in metals

Abstract

It is shown that the existence of a metastable state in which positrons in metals are “self-trapped” by strong interaction with the lattice gives rise to an anomalous temperature dependence in positron annihilation properties. The “intermediate” temperature variation of the shape of the annihilation photon line discovered by MacKenzieet al. is well accounted for by this mechanism; alternative interpretations in terms of thermal expansion effects may be refuted. This result calls for considerable revision of some of the published monovacancy formation energies obtained from positron annihilation measurements. Approximate criteria for the existence and the metastability of a selftrapped state of positively charged particles in metals are given. It is found that metastable self-trapping may occur for positrons; hydrogen isotopes and positive muons should be self-trapped in configurations that are always stable relative to the Bloch-wave states of these particles.