Quantum Diffusion of the Positive Muon in Superconducting Tantalum

R. Kadono; R. F. Kiefl; J. A. Chakhalian; S. R. Dunsiger; B. Hitti; W. A. MacFarlane; J. Major; L. Schimmele; M. Matsumoto; Y. Ohashi

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.107

Quantum Diffusion of the Positive Muon in Superconducting Tantalum

R. Kadono, R. F. Kiefl, J. A. Chakhalian, S. R. Dunsiger, B. Hitti, W. A. MacFarlane, J. Major, L. Schimmele, M. Matsumoto, and Y. Ohashi

Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 107 – Published 7 July 1997

Abstract

The tunneling probability for a positive muon in high-purity tantalum is significantly enhanced by the onset of superconductivity. This establishes the predominant influence of low energy infrared couplings to the conduction electrons in the quantum tunneling motion of a charged interstitial atom in metals.

Received 1 April 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.107

Authors & Affiliations

R. Kadono¹, R. F. Kiefl², J. A. Chakhalian², S. R. Dunsiger², B. Hitti², W. A. MacFarlane², J. Major³, L. Schimmele³, M. Matsumoto⁴, and Y. Ohashi⁵

¹The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Wako, Saitama 351-01, Japan
²TRIUMF and Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2A3
³Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung Stuttgart, Institute für Physik, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
⁴Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422, Japan
⁵Institute of Material Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan