DECAY OF BOUND MUONS IN TITANIUM, IRON, AND LEAD

Thesis/Dissertation · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4749746

Nielsen, L C

The bound muon decay rate lambda /sub d/ was measured for Ti, Fe, and Pb by observing the composite time distribution of decay electrons from positive and negative cosmic-ray muons. The decay electrons were detected in a 12'' deep carbon-tetrachloride Cerenkov counter which absorbed most of the electron energy, Aluminum reference targets were used to avoid the necessity for precise knowledge of the abundance ratio of positive to negative cosmic-ray muons. Particular care was taken to correct the data for contamination by muon-capture events, and for differences in decay-electron spectra. The ratio lambda /sub d// lambda /sub o/ of bound to free decay rates was found to be 0.92 plus or minus 0.06 for Ti, 1.05 plus or minus 0.06 for Fe, and 0.88 plus or minus 0,13 for Pb. The result for Pb is in agreement with recent theoretical predictions. The Ti and Fe results, taken by themselves, are in fair accord with theory. They are in good agreement, however, with the results of other measurements made at this laboratory; the combined results indicate an anomaly of about 8% near Z = 26. This discrepancy is smaller than has been previously reported. (Dissertation Abst., Vol. 23, No. 7)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-17-017297
• OSTI ID: 4749746
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM
BINDING ENERGY
CAPTURE
CARBON TETRACHLORIDE
CHERENKOV COUNTERS
COSMIC RADIATION
DECAY
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRONS
IRON
LEAD
MUONS
PHYSICS
QUANTITY RATIO
SPECTRA
TARGETS
TITANIUM