James J. Pan

The thermal reaction rate of muonium with methane (and ethane) in the gas phase

Rates for the gas‐phase thermal reaction Mu+CH4→MuH+CH3 (Mu=μ+e−), have been measured using the μSR (muon spin rotation) technique, over the temperature range 625–820 K. A good fit is obtained to the usual Arrhenius expression, k=A exp(−Ea/RT), giving an activation energy Ea=24.6±0.9 kcal/mol, ∼12 kcal/mol higher than that of the H‐atom isotopic variant of this reaction, H+CH4→H2+CH3. This Ea difference is the largest yet seen at high temperatures between H and Mu in the gas phase, and seems much too high to be explained in terms of [zero‐point‐energy (ZPE)] differences in their respective transition states, indicating instead a dramatic difference in reaction dynamics. The possible sources of this difference include differing reactivities from vibrationally excited states and/or a more favorable tunneling path for the H+CH4 reaction due to its suspected much earlier (and thinner) reaction barrier. In contrast, the similar H‐atom abstraction reactions with H2 and C2H6 gave Ea differences which matched exp...

Hyperfine coupling constants of muonium-substituted cyclohexadienyl radicals in the gas phase: C6H6Mu, C6D6Mu, C6F6Mu

Muon spin rotation (μSR) and avoided level crossing resonance (ALCR) have been used to determine the hyperfine coupling constants (hfcs) of the muonium-substituted cyclohexadienyl radicals C6H6Mu, C6D6Mu and C6F6Mu in the gas phase, at pressures ∼1 and 15 atm and temperatures in the range 40–80°C. Equivalent studies of polyatomic free radicals in gases, by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, are generally not possible in this pressure range. The present gas phase results support the findings of earlier studies of cyclohexadienyl radicals in the condensed phase, by both μSR and ESR. Minor but not insignificant (∼1%) effects on the hfcs are observed, which can be qualitatively understood for such nonpolar media in terms of their differing polarizabilities. This is the first time that comparisons of this nature have been possible between different phases at the same temperatures. These μSR/ALCR gas-phase results provide a valuable benchmark for computational studies on radicals, free from possible effects of solvent or matrix environments.

Spin relaxation of muonium‐substituted ethyl radicals (MuCH2ĊH2) in the gas phase

The spin relaxation of the muonium‐substituted ethyl radical (MuCH2ĊH2) and its deuterated analog (MuCD2ĊD2) has been studied in the gas phase in both transverse and longitudinal magnetic fields spanning the range ∼0.5–35 kG, over a pressure range from ∼1–16 atm at ambient temperature. The Mu13CH213ĊH2 radical has also been investigated, at 2.7 atm. For comparison, some data is also reported for the MuCH2Ċ(CH3)2 (Mu‐t‐butyl) radical at a pressure of 2.6 atm. This experiment establishes the importance of the μSR technique in studying spin relaxation phenomena of polyatomic radicals in the gas phase, where equivalent ESR data is sparse or nonexistent. Both T1 (longitudinal) and T2 (transverse) μSR relaxation rates are reported and interpreted with a phenomenological model. Relaxation results from fluctuating terms in the spin Hamiltonian, inducing transitions between the eigenstates assumed from an isotropic hyperfine interaction. Low‐field relaxation is primarily due to the electron, via both the nuclear h...

Spin relaxation of muonated radicals in the gas phase

We report on recent results obtained for longitudinal field (T1) spin relaxation of the muonium-substituted (“muonated”) free radicals MuCO, MuC2F4, MuC2H3F, and MuC4H8 (t-butyl), comparing with results reported earlier for MuC2H4 (and MuC2D4). Some comparison with transverse field (T2) data is also given. These data are fit to a phenomenological model based on NMR theory of spin relaxation in gases. The parameters of these fits are presented and discussed.

Muonium reaction kinetics with the hydrogen halide gases

The reaction rates of the muonium (Mu) atom with HBr and HI in ∼1 atm N2 moderator have been measured over the temperature range 160–490 K using the μSR technique. While both abstraction and exchange reactions are possible, only the abstraction reaction should be observable, being moderately exothermic. Comparisons with the corresponding H(D) reactions reveal small kinetic isotope effects in both reactions, which do not vary strongly with temperature (kMu/kH≊3.5 near 300 K), consistent with the (classical) ratio of mean velocities. Surprisingly, quantum tunneling, normally facile for similarly exothermic reactions of the ultralight Mu atom (mMu/mH≊1/9), appears to be of little importance here. This despite the fact that the (temperature‐independent) experimental activation energies are much less than the expected vibrationally adiabatic barrier heights (estimated to be ≊1.5 kcal mol−1) and, particularly in the case of Mu+HI, much less than the corresponding H‐atom activation energy: 0.13±0.03 vs 0.70±0.3 ...

Why ALC μSR is superior for gas‐phase radical spectroscopy

ALC μSR spectra of the muonated ethyl and cyclohexadienyl radicals in the gas phase are reported. They have surprisingly narrow lines for a magnetic resonance type technique under conditions near ambient temperature and near 1 atmosphere pressure. The main reason for this behaviour is the dramatic reduction of electron spin relaxation in high magnetic fields.

Hot muonium and muon spur processes in nitrogen and ethane

Muon polarizations are reported for nitrogen and ethane over a wide pressure range from below 1 to 200 atm for N2 and up to 245 atm for C2H6. The N2 measurements were made at ambient temperature, while those for C2H6 were made at temperatures both above and below the critical temperature (305.3 K). This is the first μSR study of muonium and diamagnetic muon formation to cover the entire range from a low pressure gas to densities typical of liquids. The data are discussed in terms of hot atom and spur models. In the lowest pressure range, below 1.5 atm for N2 and about 10 atm for C2H6, the muonium polarization increases with pressure. This is well understood in terms of epithermal charge exchange. In N2 there is a small diamagnetic fraction, which is ascribed to the N2Mu+ molecular ion. This fraction approaches zero as the pressure is increased to 200 atm, with a corresponding increase in the muonium fraction, consistent with charge neutralization of the molecular ion by electrons from the radiolysis track...

Positive muon slowing down times in Ar measured by the μSR technique

The phase information of triplet muonium signals has been used to measure the slowing down times of the positive muon in Ar. The results agree well with calculated stopping power based on proton data with the assumption that the positive muon and proton have the same stopping power at the same projectilew velocity (velocity scaling).

Interaction of muonium with oxygen on silica powder surfaces

Results of the first μSR studies using Merck FO Optipur silica powder, which contains paramagnetic impurities at the ppb level and has a surface area of 610±20 m2/g. are reported. Above 20 K, the transverse field muonium relaxation rate is roughly constant at 0.5 μs−1. Upon the addition of oxygen at ppm levels, the relaxation rate increases linearly with O2 concentration in the temperature range from 40–100 K yielding two-dimensional depolarization rate constants on the order of 10−4 cm2 molecule−1 s−1. As the temperature is increased further, both oxygen and muonium desorb from the surface yielding a three-dimensional rate constants at 300 K of 3.1(3)×10–10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, in agreement with the gas phase value. Longitudinal field measurements suggest that MuO2 is formed and is able to spin exchange with other oxygen molecules.

Muonium formation in xenon and argon up to 60 atmospheres

Results of muon polarization studies in xenon and argon up to 60 atm are reported. In argon for pressures up to 10 atm, the muon polarization is best explained by an epithermalcharge exchange model. Above this pressure, the decrease inPD and increase inPL are ascribed to charge neutralization and spin exchange reactions, respectively, in the radiolysis track. Measurements with Xe/He mixtures with a xenon pressure of 1 atm indicate that the lost polarization in the pure xenon at this pressure is due to inefficient moderation of the muon. As the pressure in pure xenon is increased above 10 atm, we find thatPL remains roughly constant andPD begins to increase. The lost fraction may be due to the formation of a XeMu Van der Waals type complex, whilePD is ascribed to XeMu+ formation. This suggests that spur processes appear to be less important in xenon than in argon.