Two protons, two positrons, and four electrons: Covalent bond with van der Waals characteristics.

Authors

Jorge Charry, Alexandre Tkatchenko

Published in

Science advances. Volume 12. Issue 40. Pages eaej0387. Oct 02, 2026. Epub Sep 30, 2026.

Abstract

Classifying interactions is key in the physical sciences, and bonding mechanisms in matter-antimatter systems remain particularly enigmatic. Here, we focus on a paradigmatic example of positronium hydride (PsH) dimer composed of two protons, two positrons, and four electrons, whose bonding nature has been previously described as either ionic, covalent, or van der Waals like. Accurate quantum Monte Carlo calculations show that the two positrons occupy a delocalized molecular orbital that envelopes the two hydrogen anions and responds as a collective dipole to an applied electric field. This positronic bonding stems from quantum correlations that resemble a single covalent bond formed between negatively charged pseudonuclei, but with a bond strength commensurate with the traditional van der Waals interaction. Our findings suggest that the ability to form delocalized proto-bonds is a more general property of quantum systems and could be present in a broader class of particles, antiparticles, and quasiparticles interacting with matter.

PMID:
42814832
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 01 Oct 2026.

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