Positron reflection from the surface potential

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Abstract
We show that thermal positron reemission and positronium formation at clean Cu(111) and Al(110) surfaces are strongly reduced at low temperatures. This is explained by quantum mechanical reflection of the positron wave function from the surface potential. Analysis of the data yields first estimates of the different transition rates for positrons at the surface. Information on the nature of the positron-surface interaction can be obtained. We discuss the implications of our findings to other surface emission and sticking processes.