The Gamma-Rays from Muon Catalysed Fusion of Hydrogen and Deuterium

Abstract

The fusion of hydrogen and deuterium catalysed by muons was observed by Alvarez et al. Events were seen in a bubble chamber in which the muon was re-emitted with the energy released in the fusion process. In the experiments described here the γ-rays from the fusion process were detected and a measurement made of their time distribution. The yield of γ-rays was found to be 0.34±0.06 per muon stopping in liquid hydrogen enriched with 1.8oo of deuterium. A comparison with the results of Alvarez et al. gives an internal conversion coefficient of 0.066±0.014. The analysis of the time distribution enables the following limits to be set on the two reaction rates involved: 0.19×106 sec-1<λslow<0.88×106 sec-1 0.55×106 sec-1<λfast<2×107 sec-1. A comparison with theory shows that it is not possible to assign them to particular processes in the chain of events following a muon stopping in the enriched mixture.