Coupling between positronium formation and elastic positron-scattering channels in the rare gases

Measurements of elastic-scattering cross sections are presented for positron collisions with helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon around the threshold energy for positronium (Ps) formation. The elastic cross section falls slowly with increasing energy above the Ps formation threshold in helium and neon, whereas in argon, krypton, and xenon it exhibits an increase, which appears both more prominent and more sustained as the atomic number of the gas increases. It is proposed that this coupling is a result of an intermediate virtual Ps state that enhances branching into the (atom plus positron) final state.