Measurement of muon transfer from proton to triton and pp micro molecular formation in solid hydrogen.

Abstract

An alternate approach was used to study the reactions of muonic atoms and molecules in solid layers of hydrogen isotopes. Muons stopped in a protium layer with a small admixture of tritium producing \ensuremath{\mu}p atoms. Muon transfer from a proton to a triton generated \ensuremath{\mu}t atoms, which were emitted into a deuterium layer. Subsequent epithermal dt\ensuremath{\mu} molecular formation followed by dt fusion gave a prompt signal for the \ensuremath{\mu}t emission. Fusion time spectra at various tritium concentrations were measured by detecting neutrons and \ensuremath{\alpha} particles and the \ensuremath{\mu}p disappearance rates were determined. The rates of \ensuremath{\mu}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mu}t transfer and pp\ensuremath{\mu} formation were measured to be ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathit{pt}}$=[5.86\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}(0.10${)}_{\mathit{stat}}$\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}(0.15${)}_{\mathit{syst}}$${(}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}0}^{+0.30}$${)}_{\mathit{model}}$]\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{9}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{\mathit{pp}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}$=[3.21 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}(0.10${)}_{\mathit{stat}}$\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}(0.14${)}_{\mathit{syst}}$${(}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}0.06}^{+0}$${)}_{\mathit{model}(}$]\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{6}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, respectively. Comparisons are made with the most recent theoretical values. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.