Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Formation of metastable {ital dt}{mu} molecules in {ital t}{mu}(2{ital s})-{ital D}{sub 2} collisions

Journal Article · · Physical Review A
;  [1]
  1. Department of Quantum Chemistry, Box 518, S-75120 Uppsala (Sweden)
The formation process of metastable {ital dt}{mu} molecules in {ital D}{sub 2}-{ital T}{sub 2} mixtures is investigated. The {ital dt}{mu} molecule exhibits a series of three-body resonances embedded in the {ital t}{mu}+{ital d} scattering continuum just below the {ital t}{mu}(2{ital s})+{ital d} threshold. These states can be formed in collisions of {ital excited} {ital t}{mu}(2{ital s}) atoms with {ital D}{sub 2} molecules, whereby the excess of binding energy is absorbed by the rovibrational degrees of freedom of {ital D}{sub 2}. We present a scattering-theoretic model for this process, and perform a numerical calculation of its cross section. The essential transition amplitudes are obtained from three-body wave functions for the {ital dt}{mu} subcluster, and adiabatic wave functions for the entire hybrid system in the final channel. It is found that the effective formation rate is limited by the Auger-transition rates of the molecular complex formed. The calculated cross sections exhibit broad {open_quote}{open_quote}peaks,{close_quote}{close_quote} with magnitudes large enough for the formation process to favorably compete with deexcitation of {ital t}{mu}({ital n}=2) atoms via radiative and collisional processes. The formation of metastable {ital dt}{mu} can therefore be one of the fastest processes depleting the {ital n}=2 levels of the {ital t}{mu} atom in hydrogen mixtures, of importance for low-energy muon science, electroweak physics, and muon catalyzed fusion. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
OSTI ID:
288262
Journal Information:
Physical Review A, Journal Name: Physical Review A Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 54; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Mechanisms of formation of the mesic molecules /ital dt/. mu. and /ital dd/. mu
Journal Article · Mon Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · Sov. J. Particles Nucl. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) · OSTI ID:6041165

Effect of dt{mu} quasinucleus structure on energy levels of the (dt{mu})Xee exotic molecule
Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004 · Physical Review. A · OSTI ID:20645879

Resonance sidepath in muon catalyzed fusion
Journal Article · Mon Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 1995 · Physical Review Letters · OSTI ID:239422