Sensitiveness of the ratio between monovacancy and bulk positron lifetimes to the approximations used in the calculations: Periodic behaviour

Positron lifetimes have been calculated in bulk and monovacancies for most of the elements of the periodic table. Self-consistent and non-self-consistent schemes have been used for the calculation of the electronic structure in the solid, as well as different parameterizations for the positron enhancement factor and correlation energy. The ratio between the monovacancy and bulk lifetimes has been analyzed. This ratio shows a periodic behaviour with atomic number in all the calculation methods and it is in agreement with selected experimental data. The ratio shows, in contradiction to previous assumptions, sensitiveness to the approximations used in the calculations. This extensive work has allowed us to study and enlighten features of the theory and computing methods broadly used nowadays in simulating, studying and understanding positronic parameters. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.