Muon-Pair Production by Atmospheric Muons in CosmoALEPH

F. Maciuc, C. Grupen, N.-O. Hashim, S. Luitz, A. Mailov, A.-S. Müller, A. Putzer, H.-G. Sander, S. Schmeling, M. Schmelling, R. Tcaciuc, H. Wachsmuth, Th. Ziegler, and K. Zuber
Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 021801 – Published 19 January 2006

Abstract

Data from a dedicated cosmic ray run of the ALEPH detector were used in a study of muon trident production, i.e., muon pairs produced by muons. Here the overburden and the calorimeters are the target materials while the ALEPH time projection chamber provides the momentum measurements. A theoretical estimate of the muon trident cross section is obtained by developing a Monte Carlo simulation for muon propagation in the overburden and the detector. Two muon trident candidates were found to match the expected theoretical pattern. The observed production rate implies that the nuclear form factor cannot be neglected for muon tridents.

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  • Received 1 August 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.021801

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

F. Maciuc1,*,†, C. Grupen2, N.-O. Hashim2, S. Luitz3, A. Mailov2, A.-S. Müller4, A. Putzer5, H.-G. Sander6, S. Schmeling7, M. Schmelling1, R. Tcaciuc2, H. Wachsmuth7, Th. Ziegler8, and K. Zuber9

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2Fachbereich Physik, Universität Siegen, D-57068 Siegen, Germany
  • 3SLAC M/S 41, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
  • 4FZ Karlsruhe, Institut für Synchrotronstrahlung, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany
  • 5Kirchhoff-Institut für Physik, Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 6Fachbereich Physik, Universität Mainz, D-55099 Mainz, Germany
  • 7CERN, CH-1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland
  • 8Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
  • 9Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Denys Wilkinson Building, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH, United Kingdom

  • *On leave from Fachbereich Physik, Universität Siegen,D-57068 Siegen, Germany.
  • Email address: Florin.Maciuc@mpi-hd.mpg.de

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Issue

Vol. 96, Iss. 2 — 20 January 2006

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