Abstract
The kinetic energy distribution of ground state muonic hydrogen atoms I p(1S) is determined from time-of-flight spectra measured at 4, 16, and 64A hPa H2 room-temperature gas. A 0.9A keV component is discovered and attributed to radiationless deexcitation of long-lived I p(2S) atoms in collisions with H2 molecules. The analysis reveals a relative population of about 1%, and a pressure-dependent lifetime (e.g., 30.4-9.7+21.4ns at 64A hPa) of the long-lived I p(2S) population, equivalent to a 2S quench rate in I p(2S)+H2 collisions of 4.4-1.8+2.1A 1011s-1 at liquid-hydrogen density. Show more
Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Physical Review LettersVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
American Physical SocietyOrganisational unit
03381 - Pauss, Felicitas (emeritus)
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