Low-energy scattering of muonic hydrogen on helium and lithium nuclei

Abstract

The energy dependence of the formation rates of the hydrogen-helium and hydrogen-lithium mesomolecules and the elastic cross sections for the scattering of muonic hydrogen on helium and lithium are calculated. The Ramsauer-Townsend effect is predicted for the elastic scattering. The elastic cross section for the t mu atom attains the magnitude of the atomic dimensions. The electron screening effect is shown to be essential for the elastic scattering.