Nuclear & Particle Physics - Positronium

Given that the binding energy of the hydrogen atom ground state is E0 = 13.6 eV, the binding energy of n = 2 state of positronium (positron-electron system) is

A. 8E0
B. 4E0
C. E0
D. E0/4
E. E0/8
(GR9277 #30)
Solution:

Energy levels of Positronium is half those of Hydrogen (See GR8677 #99)

En(H)  = − 13.6 / n²
En(Ps) ½ En(H)  

For n = 2,

E2(Ps) ½ × ( − 13.6 / 2²)  = − E0/8

Answer: E

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