Measurement of muon transfer from proton to triton and<i>pp</i>μ 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.