Excited State Muon Transfer in Hydrogen/Deuterium Mixtures

Abstract

We report the first direct observation of excited state muon transfer in hydrogen/deuterium mixtures by direct measurement of q_1s, the probability that a mu-p atom, which is initially formed in an excited state, reaches the 1s ground state. The dependence of q_1s on deuterium concentration c_d was measured for two different densities at cryogenic temperatures using charge coupled devices (CCDs) to detect the muonic X rays. First results based on the analysis of the K_alpha-lines of the two isotopes are presented.

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