paper

Resonant Formation of $d I^¼ t$ Molecules in Deuterium: An Atomic Beam Measurement of Muon Catalyzed dt Fusion

arXiv:nucl-ex/0008002 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.1642

Abstract

Resonant formation of $d I^¼ t$ molecules in collisions of muonic tritium ( $I^¼ t$ ) on D $_{2}$ was investigated using a beam of $I^¼ t$ atoms, demonstrating a new direct approach in muon catalyzed fusion studies. Strong epithermal resonances in $d I^¼ t$ formation were directly revealed for the first time. From the time-of-flight analysis of $2036 \pm 116$ $d t$ fusion events, a formation rate consistent with $0.73 \pm (0.16)_{m e a s} \pm (0.09)_{m o d e l}$ times the theoretical prediction was obtained. For the largest peak at a resonance energy of $0.423 \pm 0.037$ eV, this corresponds to a rate of $(7.1 \pm 1.8) \times 1 0^{9}$ s $^{- 1}$ , more than an order of magnitude larger than those at low energies.

To appear in Phys. Rev. Lett

Resonant Formation of dI^¼t Molecules in Deuterium: An Atomic Beam Measurement of Muon Catalyzed dt Fusion

Abstract

Resonant Formation of $d I^¼ t$ Molecules in Deuterium: An Atomic Beam Measurement of Muon Catalyzed dt Fusion