Muon-catalyzedddfusion between 25 and 150 K: Experiment

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Abstract
This paper reports an experimental investigation of muon-catalyzed fusion in pure deuterium by detection of dd fusion neutrons. Target temperatures of 25.5–150 K and gas densities of 2% and 5% liquid-hydrogen density were used. The rates λ̃F for ddμ formation from both hyperfine states of dμ atoms as well as the hyperfine transition rates λ̃FF′ were separated in a kinetic analysis of the observed time spectra. This measurement of the temperature dependence of all important rates in the ddμ catalysis cycle allows a comprehensive and quantitative test of the present theory of resonant molecule formation. In particular, the temperature behavior of ddμ formation from the dμ quadruplet state determines the binding energy ɛ11=-1966.1(3) meV of the participating ddμ state with unique accuracy. In general, convincing agreement between experiment and theory concerning the ddμ formation process is found, whereas the theoretical hyperfine rates, consisting of nonresonant and resonant contributions, exceed the experimental values by ∼40%.