MUON DEPOLARIZATION IN SOLIDS.
Abstract
When polarized positive muons stop in a solid, they may be depolarized prior to their decay. The presence of a magnetic field along the direction of initial polarization will inhibit, or quench, some of this depolarization. A study was made of depolarization and quenching in a variety of solids, including semiconductors, at temperatures as low as 4.2K. No evidence was found that any muon depolarization is associated with the formation of a muonium atom which is bound for > 10 to the-10th power sec, even in samples at 4.2K. For many samples and temperatures, the quenching of the observed depolarization is consistent with a model in which the muon captures and loses electrons repeatedly, forming a succession of briefly bound muonium atoms. In some of the semiconductors at low temperatures, as well as in other samples, a large fraction of the depolariization is quenched by a field of 100 G. This is seen as evidence for another depolarization mechanism. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0606475
Entities
People
- Bob Eisenstein
Organizations
- Columbia University