2.1. Introduction

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an introduction to experimental methods of positron annihilation for the study of defects in metals. The use of the annihilation radiation from positron–electron pairs to study the nature of defects in metals has taken a definite place in the armamentarium of experimental techniques used by materials and solid-state scientists. The chapter introduces scientists to the materials and the required instrumentation for the types of positron experiments that are possible, outlines several special experimental topics of interest to specialists in the field, and serves as a guide to new workers as well. The chapter discusses each of the three major positron methods: Doppler broadening, angular correlation, and lifetime experiments. It also describes the stabilization methods used in Doppler broadening and lifetime experiments.