J. M. Bailey

Experiments with energetic [mu]d and [mu]t emitted from solid hydrogen

A set of experiments is reviewed which makes use of the emission of muonic deuterium from the surface of a layer of solid hydrogen. The behaviour of muons in a solid target system has been studied via detection of muon decay electrons, muonic X-rays, and fusion products (neutrons and charged particles). The emission of muonic deuterium is understood to result from the Ramsauer-Townsend scattering minimum. The energy distribution of the emitted atoms ranges from tenths of eV to about 10 eV, and can be controlled to some extent. A proposal is described to use muonic tritium emission to measure the energy dependence of muonic molecular formation.

Muon catalyzed fusion in 3-K solid deuterium

Muon catalyzed fusion in deuterium traditionally has been studied in gaseous and liquid targets. The TRIUMF solid-hydrogen-layer target system has been used to study the fusion reaction rates in the solid phase of D{sub 2} at a target temperature of 3 K. Products of two distinct branches of the reaction were observed: neutrons by a liquid organic scintillator and protons by a silicon detector located inside the target system. The effective molecular formation rate from the upper hyperfine state of {mu}d and the hyperfine transition rate have been measured: {tilde {lambda}}{sub (3)/(2)}=2.71(7){sub stat}(32){sub syst}{mu}s{sup {minus}1} and {tilde {lambda}}{sub (3)/(2)(1)/(2)}=34.2(8){sub stat}(1){sub syst}{mu}s{sup {minus}1}. The molecular formation rate is consistent with other recent measurements, but not with the theory for isolated molecules. The discrepancy may be due to incomplete thermalization, an effect that was investigated by Monte Carlo calculations. Information on branching ratio parameters for the s and p wave d+d nuclear interaction has been extracted. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Muon-catalyzed fusion in deuterium at 3 K

Muon-catalyzed fusion in deuterium has traditionally been studied in gaseous and liquid targets. The TRIUMF solid hydrogen layer target system has been used to study the fusion reaction rates in the solid phase at a target temperature of 3 K. Both branches of the cycle were observed; neutrons by a liquid organic scintillator, and protons by a silicon detector located inside the target system. The effective molecular formation rate from the upper hyperfine state and the spin exchange rate have been measured, and information on the branching ratio parameters has been extracted.

Producing μ−d and μ−t in vacuum

After the feasibility of vacuum isolated μ−d production was demonstrated at TRIUMF in 1989, development was begun on a target system that would take advantage of the process to aid in the understanding of the muon catalyzed fusion cycle. Minimal neutron backgrounds, the ability to use silicon detectors, and compatibility with tritium were considered important for a very versatile target system. The advantages which the target gives in isolating μCF process will be outlined.

Muon transfer from hot muonic hydrogen atoms to neon

A negative muon beam has been directed on adjacent solid layers of hydrogen and neon. Three targets differing by their deuterium concentration were investigated. Muonic hydrogen atoms can drift to the neon layer where the muon is immediately transferred. The time structure of the muonic neon X-rays follows the exponential law with a disappearance rate corresponding to the one of μ−p atoms in each target. The rates λppμ and λpd can be extracted

Characterization of solid hydrogen targets

In experiments using the TRIUMF solid hydrogen target system, the knowledge of the target thickness and uniformity is often essential in order to extract physical parameters from the data. We have characterized the thickness and uniformity of frozen targets using the energy loss of alpha particles. An accuracy of ∼5% was achieved, a limit imposed by the uncertainty in the stopping powers: The details of the method are described, and the thickness calibration of the target is presented.

Advantages and Limitations of Solid Layer Experiments in Muon Catalyzed Fusion

Since the discovery that muonic deuterium at energies near a few eV could travel distances of the order of 1 mm in condensed hydrogen, and in particular that muonic tritium and muonic deuterium could emerge from the surface of a solid hydrogen layer, the advantages of solid targets have enabled the study of several processes important in muon catalyzed fusion. A review of the results is presented, emphasizing the strengths and limitations of the use of solid hydrogen layer targets.

Time-of-flight spectroscopy of muonic tritium

Emission of muonic tritium from a solid hydrogen layer has been studied via imaging of the muon-decay electrons and the time-of-flight distributions have been compared with detailed Monte Carlo calculations. Results are consistent at the 10% level with the theoretical prediction of a Ramsauer-Townsend minimum cross-section energy.

Emission of muonic tritium into vacuum: An atomic beam for muon experiments

The emission of muonic tritium atoms from a thin film of hydrogen isotopes into vacuum was observed. The time and position of the muon decays were measured by tracking the decay electron trajectory. The observations are useful both for testing the theoretical cross sections for muonic atomic interactions, and producing an atomic beam of slow μ-t with a controllable energy.

Detection of Hot Muonic Hydrogen Atoms Emitted in Vacuum Using X-Rays

Negative muons are stopped in solid layers of hydrogen and neon. Muonic hydrogen atoms can drift to the neon layer where the muon is immediately transferred. We found that the time structure of the muonic neon X-rays follows the exponential law where the rate is the same as the disappearance rate of µ −p atoms. The ppµ-formation rate and the muon transfer rate to deuterium are deduced.