On the polarization of electrons from the decay of muons

Abstract

An expression for the energy spectrum, angular distribution and polarization of electrons emitted by decaying muons has been obtained (formula (2) in the Appendix). The calculations are carried out for a decay interaction Hamiltonian of the most general form characterized by ten complex constants (formula (1) in the Appendix). Results, obtained previously by different authors (9–21), are contained in formula (2). It is shown that experiments performed up to the present time are not sufficient for the verification of the predictions made in references (4,5). According to these references, conditions (2) and (3) must be fullfilled; the distribution of electrons must be described by the formula (4). It follows from (2) that a combination ofS, T andP couplings gives formula (5), which differs only by the sign from (4). Hence to decide which of these two formulas is the correct one, the polarization sign of the decaying muons must be measured.