Resonant enhancement of the formation of hydrogen–helium muonic molecules

Abstract

Formation of muonic molecules ( He 4 μ p ) J = 1 + + and ( He 3 μ d ) J = 0 , 1 , 2 + + , where J is rotational quantum number, in electron conversion process is investigated at collision energies between 0.004 eV and 50 eV. Corresponding reaction rates are calculated in adiabatic approximation for the three-body Coulomb problem. Significant enhancement of the rates for ( He 4 μ p ) 1 + + and ( He 3 μ d ) 2 + + is found near 7 eV and 30 eV, respectively. It is shown that the enhancement is due to resonances present in elastic ( p μ ) 1 s + He + + 4 and ( d μ ) 1 s + He + + 3 scattering at these energies. Acceleration of dμ atoms up to the resonant energy could be realized in triple H–D– 3He mixture due to the muon transfer from protium to deuterium. Experimental investigation of d – He + + 3 nuclear synthesis from ( He 3 μ d ) 0 + + molecular state directly formed in the mixture is suggested.