Abstract
We have investigated a previously unconsidered sidepath in muon catalyzed fusion. We have found that high formation rates of metastable molecules in - collisions and their subsequent decay into or atoms open a return path for the muon from tritium to deuterium. This process can be considered as muon transfer from to via three-body resonances of . This enlarges the population and quenches the muon cycling rate, in agreement with experimental findings.
- Received 21 April 1995
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.75.2108
©1995 American Physical Society