Search for spontaneous conversion of muonium to antimuonium

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6064307

Hughes, V W; Ni, B; Arnold, K P; Chmely, F; Kettell, S H; Kuang, Y; Markey, J; Matthias, B E; Orth, H; Schaefer, H R

We have searched for spontaneous conversion of muonium (M) to antimuonium M bar by a method involving detection of high-Z muonic X rays. A beam of M atoms with keV energies, produced by electron pickup by ..mu../sup +/ from a foil, travels in vacuum and in a magnetic field-free environment to a high-Z target. The event signatures used were a double coincidence of two muonic X rays of the target material and a triple coincidence that also required detection of secondary electrons ejected when M strikes the target. Partial analysis of our 8 x 10/sup 6/ triggers indicates upper limits on the effective M ..-->..M bar four-dermion coupling constant of G/sub MM bar/ less than or equal to 30 G/sub F/ (90% C.L.) and G/sub MM bar/ less than or equal to 8 G/sub F/ (90% C.L.), respectively, from the two signatures. This begins to probe predictions of the left-right symmetric theory with a doubly-charged Higgs triplet.

• Research Organization: Yale Univ., New Haven, CT (USA); Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA); College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA (USA); Mississippi Univ., University (USA); Heidelberg Univ. (Germany, F.R.)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6064307
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-87-2078; CONF-870413-4; ON: DE87011767
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640303* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Positronium
Muonium
& Muonic & Mesic Atoms & Molecules
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ANTILEPTONS
ANTIMATTER
ANTIPARTICLES
BEAMS
CONVERSION
DATA ANALYSIS
DETECTION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
LEPTON BEAMS
LEPTONS
MUON BEAMS
MUONIUM
MUONS
MUONS PLUS
PARTICLE BEAMS
RADIATION DETECTION
SYMMETRY GROUPS
X-RAY DETECTION