Formation of mesonic atoms in mixtures of the lightest elements

Abstract

Abstract The kinetics of formation of mesonic atoms in gaseous mixtures is considered. It has been shown that the ratio of the probabilities for the atomic capture of mesons by various elements may depend nonlinearly upon the ratio of concentration of the elements. The cross sections for the capture of μ−, π−, and K − mesons and antiprotons by H and He atoms have been calculated. The energy distributions of meson capture probabilities in these elements have been obtained. A new interpretation of the data on π− meson absorption in the H2 + He mixture is proposed. For the case of the formation of mesonic atoms in a mixture of hydrogenic isotopes, an isotopic effect is predicted and its relation to another isotopic effect observed in the muonic X-ray intensities from the heavy elements in hydrogen-containing substances is found.