The Capture of Negative Mesotrons in Matter

A detailed discussion of the energy loss of negative mesotrons in matter is presented. The energy range considered is from +2000 ev to the lowest quantized orbit of the mesotron. The most important mechanism for energy loss is that of electron collisions except very near the nucleus, where radiation losses are important.

The time for the over-all process is of the order of ${10}^{-13\mathrm{}}$ sec. in condensed matter and ${10}^{-9\mathrm{}}$ sec. in normal air. In chemical compounds the probability of capture near the various atoms is roughly proportional to their atomic numbers.