Resonant formation of d&mgr;t molecules in deuterium: An atomic beam measurement of muon catalyzed dt fusion
Resonant formation of d&mgr;t molecules in collisions of muonic tritium ( &mgr;t) on D2 was investigated using a beam of &mgr;t atoms, demonstrating a new direct approach in muon catalyzed fusion studies. Strong epithermal resonances in d&mgr;t formation were directly revealed for the first time. From the time-of-flight analysis of 2036+/-116 dt fusion events, a formation rate consistent with 0.73+/-(0.16)(meas)+/-(0.09)(model) times the theoretical prediction was obtained. For the largest peak at a resonance energy of 0.423+/-0.037 eV, this corresponds to a rate of (7.1+/-1.8)x10(9) s(-1), more than an order of magnitude larger than those at low energies.
Fujiwara
MC
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2A6 and TRIUMF, Vancouver, Canada V6T 2A3.
Adamczak
A
Bailey
JM
Beer
GA
Beveridge
JL
Faifman
MP
Huber
TM
Kammel
P
Kim
SK
Knowles
PE
Kunselman
AR
Maier
M
Markushin
VE
Marshall
GM
Martoff
CJ
Mason
GR
Mulhauser
F
Olin
A
Petitjean
C
Porcelli
TA
Wozniak
J
Zmeskal
J