July 2010

EPJ D - Gaetana Laricchia wins Thomson Medal

Professor Gaetana Laricchia of UCL, London, has been awarded the Thomson medal and prize for her contributions to the development of the world's only positronium beam and its use to probe the properties of atoms and molecules. This follows closely the Occhialini prize which she received in 2009.

Professor Laricchia's achievements include measurements of near - threshold ionisation which have led to the development of new threshold laws. Her unique kinematically complete measurements (in which the energy distribution among all particles is accounted for) of direct ionisation by positron impact revealed the occurrence of electron - capture - to - the - continuum. This work also exposed an unexpected symmetry in the energy sharing between the ejected electron and the positron which theorists are still struggling to explain.

Professor Laricchia was appointed Associate Editor for EPJ D in January 2010. The whole editorial team and the publishers congratulate her on this prestigious award.