Resonant formation of dμt molecules in deuterium: An atomic beam measurement of muon catalyzed dt fusion

Abstract

During muon catalyzed fusion reactions, one muon of the deuterium-tritium mixture catalyzed over 100 nuclear fusions between deuteron and triton. The thermal energy provided the collision energy for the reaction in the equilibrium states but high temperature targets were not achieved due to problems in tritium handling. The μt beam energy provided direct access to epithermal resonances in the atomic beam method. The experiment, conducted at the M20B channel at TRIUMF, employed silicon and germanium detectors for the detection of muon decay electrons. The experimental and scaling results demonstrated a peak formation rate which was more than that obtained at lower energies.