Bound-free heavy-lepton pair production for photon and ion impact on atomic nuclei

Abstract

Finite nuclear size is found to cause reduction in photoproduction of $\ensuremath{\mu}$ and $\ensuremath{\tau}$ pairs with bound negative lepton. The reduction is less dramatic for muons than claimed previously but very severe for experimental production of tauonic atoms. For both types of leptons, $L$-shell production exceeds $K$-shell production in heavy targets, and light targets are more favorable for ground-state $\ensuremath{\tau}$-atom production. Implications for heavy-ion collisions are outlined.