Observation of a Low Energy Component of Positronium Emitted from Alkali-Metal Coated Polycrystalline Tungsten Surfaces

We have studied the emission of ortho-positronium from alkali-metal coated polycrystalline tungsten surfaces. The positronium time-of-flight spectra show that the yield of the 5 eV positronium component increases by alkali-metal coating. In addition, a low energy positronium component appears by Cs or K coating. We suggest that this component is due to positron energy loss by inter-band transition or surface plasmon excitation.