Objective
The ability of positrons to annihilate with atomic and molecular electrons forming characteristic gamma rays makes them a unique probe of matter, and gives them important use in medical imaging, astrophysics and materials science.
Low-energy positron interactions with atoms and molecules are characterised by strong many-body correlations, including polarization of the electron cloud, screening of the Coulomb interaction, and the unique process of virtual-positronium formation (where a molecular electron temporarily tunnels to the positron). They have an overwhelming effect, causing binding, drastically modifying scattering properties, and enhancing annihilation rates by orders of magnitude. They also make the theoretical description of positron interactions with atoms and molecules a very challenging many-body problem.
We will radically transform our state-of-the-art and unrivalled many-body theory approach in our EXCITON+ code [Nature, 606, 688 (2022)] to enable the highest-feasible accuracy and efficiency many-body theory description of antimatter-matter interactions, leveraging modern heterogenous high-performance computing to describe systems currently beyond reach of ab initio study. Predictive capability and the most accurate ab initio calculations of positron binding to atoms and molecules, and positron scattering on polyatomic molecules taking proper account of the correlations including virtual-positronium formation will be realized. Systems of interest will include DNA bases and molecules in aqueous solution relevant to positron emission tomography and positherapy, polyaromatic hydrocarbons found in the interstellar medium, and open-vacancy defects in materials. Moreover, the hitherto unexplored processes of positron-annihilation induced interatomic Coulomb decay and positron analogs of interatomic Coulomb electron capture will also be studied. The theory of antimatter-light-matter interactions will be developed.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry hydrocarbons
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy astrophysics
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
BT7 1NN BELFAST
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.