Excited state muon transfer in hydrogen/deuterium mixtures.

Abstract

We report the first direct observation of excited state muon transfer in hydrogen/deuterium mixtures by direct measurement of ${q}_{1s}$, the probability that a $\ensuremath{\mu}p$ atom, which is initially formed in an excited state, reaches the $1s$ ground state. The dependence of ${q}_{1s}$ on deuterium concentration ${c}_{d}$ was measured for two different densities at cryogenic temperatures using charge coupled devices to detect the muonic x rays. First results based on the analysis of the ${K}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ lines of the two isotopes are presented.