Experimental Verification of the Blob Model and Delayed Formation of Ps

Stepanov and Byakov’s blob model for the formation of positronium can be considered as an extension of the spur model. However, it offers many extra possibilities and is more sound from the radiation chemistry point of view. A full coding of this model leads to non-exponential lifetime spectra, and standard multi-component analysis is no longer adequate for materials such as polymers. Age momentum correlation experiments were performed on linear PMMA at different temperatures and were analyzed with the non-exponential blob model. We show the adequacy of this model, and moreover an alternative explanation for the young-age broadening and delayed formation of positronium.