Elemental melts studied by positron lifetime and Doppler broadening measurements

Abstract
Positron lifetime measurements were performed in Al, In and Ge in the solid and molten phases. In the melts the positrons are found to be annihilated in free volumes the size of a few atomic volumes. These results are discussed together with those of earlier studies on molten Ga, Hg and Na. The influence of the fast fluctuations and that of the presence of the positron on the size of the free volumes in the melt are considered.