Studies of slow-positron production using low-energy primary electron beams

Slow-positron beams produced from negative-work-function solid-state moderators have found numerous applications in condensed matter physics. There are potential advantages in using low-energy primary electron beams for positron production, including reduced radiation damage to single-crystal moderators and reduced activation of nearby components. We present numerical calculations of positron yields and other beam parameters for various target-moderator configurations using the Argonne Wakefield Accelerator (AWA) and Advanced Photon Source (APS) electron linacs as examples of sources for the primary electron beams. The status of experiments at these facilities is reviewed.