Preface

The Ninth International Workshop on Slow Positron Beam Techniques for Solids and Surfaces, SLOPOS-9, was held at Dresden, Germany, from 16 to 22 September 2001. This series is devoted to provide an informal platform of presentation and discussion of latest results in this quickly advancing field, covering such scientific topics as positron beam development and design, including intense beams and microscopes, developments in experimental and analytical techniques, positroni-defect interactions and defect structure, defect profiling in bulk and layered structures, positron implantation and thermalisation, positronic and other surface processes, surface modification and coatings, and positron atomic physics.

At the moment of printing the Program/Abstract (31 August), 92 persons from 20 countries all over the world had registered for participation. The program represented a careful balance of invited (12), oral (50), and poster (28) presentations, mixed with cultural events (welcome reception, visit to the superconducting accelerator ELBE (under construction at Rossendorf), excursion, and banquet). The awful terrorist attacks in the US on 11 September had a minor but noticeable impact on our conference. Several American colleagues had to cancel their participation for subjective or objective reasons, or could finally participate only in part due to unavailability of airline capacity in time. Four participants from other countries had to cancel their participation at the last minute for other reasons.

Finally, 86 persons from 18 countries participated in the workshop, and the program still consisted of 11 invited, 43 oral, and 28 poster contributions. The program was organised into 14 oral sessions, 2 poster sessions, and 2 round-table discussions. The last dealt with special aspects of positron sources, including intense ones, and the question of where to meet in 2004 for SLOPOS-10. The competition was decided in an open and direct vote in favour of Doha, Qatar. The participants of the
workshop expressed their feelings of great sadness and sympathy for those directly and indirectly involved in the terrorist attacks in the US in a book of condolence during the workshop. In our opinion, the decision to meet next time in Doha, Qatar underlines the internationality of science which may not be influenced by terrorist activities. The closing remarks given on behalf of all colleagues by Philip Sterne from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA confirmed that this workshop was an outstanding success both from the scientific program and from its infrastructure and stimulating atmosphere, including all the cultural events.

In total, 59 papers have been accepted for publication after extensive reviewing. For their cooperative and very conscientious work we are grateful to the referees. We would like to thank the editors of Applied Surface Science for giving continuity to the publication series of SLOPOS proceedings.

The location of the workshop in the new part of Germany, in Dresden, allowed us to keep the average costs per participant to an acceptable level. In addition, due to generous sponsorship from our local ministry it was possible to arrange the participation of 10 colleagues from eastern Europe. However, we would like to express our thanks to all the sponsors, and especially all un-named people at the venue, Forschungszentrum Rossendorf, and the locations of our cultural events who have been very involved in contributing to the overall success of the workshop.