Muon-catalyzed dd fusion between 25 and 150 K: Experiment

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.42.1165· OSTI ID:6607908

Zmeskal, J; Kammel, P; Scrinzi, A; Breunlich, W H; Cargnelli, M; Marton, J; Naegele, N; Werner, J ^[1]; Bertl, W; Petitjean, C ^[2]

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1. Institut fuer Mittelenergiephysik, Oesterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Boltzmanngasse 3, A-1090, Vienna (Austria)
2. Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen (Switzerland)

This paper reports an experimental investigation of muon-catalyzed fusion in pure deuterium by detection of {ital dd} fusion neutrons. Target temperatures of 25.5--150 K and gas densities of 2% and 5% liquid-hydrogen density were used. The rates {tilde {lambda}}{sub {ital F}} for {ital dd}{mu} formation from both hyperfine states of {ital d}{mu} atoms as well as the hyperfine transition rates {tilde {lambda}}{sub {ital F}{ital F}{prime}} were separated in a kinetic analysis of the observed time spectra. This measurement of the temperature dependence of all important rates in the {ital dd}{mu} catalysis cycle allows a comprehensive and quantitative test of the present theory of resonant molecule formation. In particular, the temperature behavior of {ital dd}{mu} formation from the {ital d}{mu} quadruplet state determines the binding energy {var epsilon}{sub 11}={minus}1966.1(3) meV of the participating {ital dd}{mu} state with unique accuracy. In general, convincing agreement between experiment and theory concerning the {ital dd}{mu} formation process is found, whereas the theoretical hyperfine rates, consisting of nonresonant and resonant contributions, exceed the experimental values by {similar to}40%.

• OSTI ID: 6607908
• Journal Information: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA) Vol. 42:3; ISSN PLRAA; ISSN 0556-2791
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640303* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Positronium
Muonium
& Muonic & Mesic Atoms & Molecules
651220 -- Nuclear Properties & Reactions
A=1-5
Experimental
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
DEUTERIUM
DEUTERIUM TARGET
DEUTERON REACTIONS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
HYPERFINE STRUCTURE
ISOTOPES
KINETICS
LIGHT NUCLEI
LOW TEMPERATURE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MESIC MOLECULES
MOLECULES
MONITORS
MUON-CATALYZED FUSION
MUONIC MOLECULES
NEUTRON MONITORS
NUCLEAR REACTION KINETICS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PRODUCTION
RADIATION MONITORS
REACTION KINETICS
RESONANCE
STABLE ISOTOPES
SYNTHESIS
TARGETS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS
VERY LOW TEMPERATURE