Premium
Binding Matter with Antimatter: The Covalent Positron Bond
Author(s) -
Charry Jorge,
Varella Márcio T. do N.,
Reyes Andrés
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201800914
Subject(s) - antimatter , positron , physics , covalent bond , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics , electron
We report sufficient theoretical evidence of the energy stability of the e + ⋅H 2 2− molecule, formed by two H − anions and one positron. Analysis of the electronic and positronic densities of the latter compound undoubtedly points out the formation of a positronic covalent bond between the otherwise repelling hydride anions. The lower limit for the bonding energy of the e + ⋅H 2 2− molecule is 74 kJ mol −1 (0.77 eV), accounting for the zero‐point vibrational correction. The formation of a non electronic covalent bond is fundamentally distinct from positron attachment to stable molecules, as the latter process is characterized by a positron affinity, analogous to the electron affinity.