High intensity muon/pion beam with time structure at PSI

A new initiative is presented to develop a high intensity muon/pion beam with a time structure optimized to the muon lifetime. Such a facility would provide exciting physics opportunities for dramatically improved fundamental experiments, e.g., in the field of muon capture, muon lifetime and muonium spectroscopy. The high primary beam intensity at PSI allows intense chopped muon beams by installing a fast electrostatic kicker in a secondary channel. Two modes of operation are foreseen: a muon-on-request scheme, which uses active feedback from a beam counter in the experimental area and a periodic pulsed mode with about 5–20% duty factor. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Upgrading the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility

We report a major upgrading work currently underway at the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility. A slow muon beam line has been constructed at Port 3 experimental area in order to generate a low-energy, low-emittance positive muon beam, which will open many new possibilities for use of the muon beam. Meanwhile, a new experimental port is under construction to accommodate new experimental programs such as measurement of muonic X-rays from ions implanted to deuterium layer. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Muon Spin Dynamics and Sites in GdNi5

In GdNi₅, the muon localizes at the 3f interstitial site and below 80K a second muon site becomes populated, the so-called 6_ring site. This ring site is metastable and the muon hops to the 3f site. We determine the mean time of stay of the muon in the ring site and show that it is governed by a multi-phonon quantum diffusion process. The coincidence energy is measured to be E _a =272(10)K and the tunneling matrix element J=0.11(2)meV.     

The Precise Measurement of the μ+ Lifetime

The lifetime of the positive muon (τ_μ ⁺) can be directly associated with the Fermi Coupling Constant (G _F ), which is one of the most basic parameters of the Standard Model. However, the current experimental accuracy of the τ_μ ⁺ is ∼30 ppm and it has not been improved for more than 15 years. We propose a new experiment for a pulsed muon facility such as RIKEN-RAL to measure the muon lifetime with multi-decay per one time window method. The advantage of our setup, no time window limitation, enables us to test the exponential decay law (EDL) in the long decay time region at the same time. The preliminary analysis set a new upperlimit for the EDL deviation in the muon decay. We accumulated ∼10¹⁰ muon decays and analysis is in progress. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Review of Muon Catalyzed Fusion Experiments – Activities after EXAT98 and Future Perspectives

Since EXAT98 at Ascona, significant progress has been marked for experimental investigations of the fundamental understanding of muon catalyzed fusion (μCF) phenomena in D–T, D₂ and other hydrogen systems. Future progress in the μCF studies is now guaranteed due to the successful launching of advanced accelerator projects such as JAERI-KEK Joint Proton Accelerator project and RI Beam Factory project at RIKEN. Also, the start of the next-phase thermal nuclear fusion project of ITER becomes promising so that some future contributions from ITER to μCF or vice-versa can be expected for various physical or technological aspects of fusion research. The future progress of μCF studies will also be promoted because of the growth of various other scientific research using muons. The essence of all these subjects is reviewed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Development of a New Experimental Method for Studies of Muon Capture in Hydrogen

A new experiment is under preparation with the aim to improve considerably the present knowledge of the rate Λ _s , which should be measured on a level of 1% or better, for the basic electroweak capture reaction of a negative muon on the free proton μp _1s → n + ν_μ. The capture rate will be determined by measuring the lifetime of μ⁻ stopped in ultra pure hydrogen at 10 bar pressure and comparing it with the lifetime of the unbound μ⁺. A new experimental method was developed for this project which should allow measuring the μ⁻ lifetime with at least 10 ppm precision. The basic element of the detector is operating in the hydrogen gas time projection chamber (TPC) surrounded by multi-wire proportional chambers (MWPCs) and scintillator counters. The arrival times and trajectories of the incoming muons and the outgoing decay electrons are measured with this device providing effective suppression of background. Using the TPC as an active target, we can monitor on-line the protium contamination by impurities with a sensitivity better than 10⁻⁸. This can be done by detecting the charged products of the muon capture reaction on these impurities. It was demonstrated that the TPC and MWPCs can operate in pure hydrogen under 10 bar pressure providing gas gain up to 10 000. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Smuon in the NMSSM confronted with the muon g–2 anomaly and SUSY searches

Motivated by recent supersymmetry (SUSY) search results, which prefer most SUSY particles to be heavy, and the muon g–2 anomaly, which prefers colorless SUSY particles to be light, we explore the status of a light smuon (the SUSY partner of a left-handed muon lepton) in the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM). Assuming colored SUSY particles to be heavy, and considering numerous experimental constraints, including muon g-2, SUSY searches, and dark matter, we scan the parameter space in the NMSSM with \begin{document}$ \mathbb{Z}_3 $\end{document}-symmetry and check the status of colorless SUSY particles and their possible mass order, paying special attention to the smuon. After calculations and discussions, we find that the surviving samples can be divided into several scenarios, where the mass region and decay information of the smuon are given. Overall, the smuon mass can be approximately 0.1~1.8 TeV. These results may be useful for smuon searches at the LHC and future colliders.     

Excited states of muonic helium hydride ions and their possible impact on muon reactivation

Several previously unknown resonances of the μtμ helium hydride ion have been identified using a variational procedure. It is suggested that these resonances may form in αμ(1s)-TD(T₂) scattering, for centre of mass collision energies in the range 8–10 keV. If the molecular complex [(αtμ)*dee]* is formed in a dissociative state (with respect to the α tμ-d coordinate), the dissociation energy may in part be transferred to the muonic degrees of freedom, opening the exit channel [(αtμ)*dee]* → tμ + α e + T, effectively amounting to muon transfer from α to t. We present a theoretical formulation of this novel and hypothetical mechanism for muon reactivation together with a numerical calculation of its cross-section for a special case. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A fast muon trigger for the PHENIX forward spectrometer upgrade

The PHENIX forward upgrade adds nosecone calorimeters and level-1 trigger (LVL-1) detectors to the muon forward spectrometers. The muon detector will trigger on high pT muons from W decay and reject background. This will enable study of quark and anti-quark polarizations in the proton. The upgrade will add momentum and timing information to the present muon trigger. Signals from 3 Resistive Plate Chambers (RPCs) will provide momentum and timing information for the LVL-1 trigger. Each RPC carries a plane with coarse structure to establish a space point for timing and one with radial cathode strips for azimuthal resolution. Timing resolution of ≈ 2 ns rejects beam-related backgrounds and tracking from RPCs minimizes muons from hadron decays. RPC information is sent by optical. bers to LVL-1 trigger processors. A discussion of physics measurements possible, layout of the upgrade and details of RPC design and tests are given below. for the PHENIX collaboration Presented in the Poster Session “Future Experiments and Facilities” at the 18th International Conference “Quark Matter 2005”, Budapest, Hungary, 4–9 August 2005.     

Two-Higgs-doublet models in light of current experiments: a brief review

We briefly survey several typical CP-conserving two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDMs) in light of current experiments. First we derive the masses and couplings of the mass eigenstates from the Lagrangians. Then we analyze the constraints from theory and oblique electroweak parameters. Finally, we delineate the status of 2HDM in light of the LHC searches, the dark matter detections and the muon g − 2 measurement.     

Dai Omega, a Drastic Upgrading of the Surface Muon Channel Using a Large Solid Angle Axial Focusing Superconducting System

An axial focusing surface muon channel, Dai Omega, is under construction. This channel will be installed at KEK-MSL in the summer of 2001. It uses four large aperture superconducting coils for axial focusing to realize a high-intensity positive muon beam by improving the solid angle acceptance. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

New g-2 experiment at J-PARC

A new measurement of the anomalous magnetic moment of the positive muon aμ is proposed with a novel technique utilizing an ultra-cold muon beam accelerated to 300 MeV/c and a 66 cm-diameter muon storage ring without focusing-electric field.This measurement will be complimentary to the previous measurement that achieved 0.54 ppm accuracy with the magic energy of 3.1 GeV in a 14 m diameter storage ring.The proposed experiment aims to achieve the sensitivity down to 0.1 ppm.     

Symmetry tests within the Standard Model and beyond from nuclear muon capture

Precision measurements in nuclear muon capture on the proton and ³He allow for tests of the Standard Model for the strong and electroweak interactions, complementary to those achieved in high energy experiments. The present situation and future prospects are reviewed, emphasizing where renewed efforts could prove to be rewarding in exploring ever further beyond the confines of the Standard Model. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Muon Science Facility at the JKJ Project

The muon science facility is one of the experimental arenas of the JKJ project, which was recently approved for construction in a period from 2001 to 2006, as well as neutron science, particle and nuclear physics, neutrino physics and nuclear transmutation science. The muon science experimental area is planned to be located in the integrated building of the facility for the materials and life science study. One muon target will be installed upstream of the neutron target in a period of phase 1. The beam line and facility are designed to allow the later installation of a 2nd muon target in a more upstream location. The detailed design for electricity, cooling water, primary proton beam line, one muon target and secondary beam lines (a superconducting solenoid decay muon channel, a dedicated surface muon channel, and an ultra slow muon channel) is underway. In the symposium, a latest status of the muon science facility at JKJ project will be reported. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Estimation of Sea Level Muon Energy Spectrum at High Latitude from the Latest Primary Nucleon Spectra Near the Top of the Atmosphere

The vertical muon energy spectra at sea level have been estimated from directly measured primary cosmic-ray nucleon spectrum. The hadronic energy moments have been calculated from the CERN LEBC EHS data on the Lorentz invariant cross-section results on pp ^±X and pp K^±X inclusive reactions and are duly corrected for A–A collisions. Finally, the sea level muon energy spectra have been calculated from the decay of conventional mesons, using standard formulation. The estimated muon spectra are found to be in good agreement with the directly measured muon spectra obtained from the different experiments.     

μ+SR Study of Ordering Phenomena in the Heavy-Fermion State of Ce3Pd20Ge6

Magnetic and quadrupolar ordering phenomena in a Ce₃Pd₂₀Ge₆ single crystal have been investigated by muon spin rotation/relaxation (μ⁺SR) spectroscopy. We have observed spontaneous precession of muons in zero-field below T _N =0.7 K in the antiferromagnetic state. The precession frequency follows the power law: ν(T)=ν(0)(1−T/T _N ) ⁿ . The exponent n=0.43(2) is close to the mean-field value of 0.5. The muon longitudinal spin relaxation rate 1/T ₁ is found to be nearly independent of temperature in the range of 0.3 to 2 K, i.e., across either T _N or T _Q =1.2 K, the quadrupolar ordering temperature. Two likely mechanisms for the temperature independent behavior of 1/T ₁ are suggested. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Precise Measurement of Muon Capture on the Proton

The aim of the μCap experiment is a 1% measurement of the singlet capture rate Λ _S for the basic electro-weak reaction μ + p → n + ν_μ. This observable is sensitive to the weak form-factors of the nucleon, in particular to the induced pseudoscalar coupling constant g _P . It will provide a rigorous test of theoretical predictions based on the Standard Model and effective theories of QCD. The present method is based on high precision lifetime measurements of μ⁻ in hydrogen gas and the comparison with the free μ⁺ lifetime. The μ⁻ experiment will be performed in ultra-clean, deuterium-depleted H₂ gas at 10 bar. Low density compared to liquid H₂ is chosen to avoid uncertainties due to ppμ formation. A time projection chamber acts as a pure hydrogen active target. It defines the muon stop position in 3D and detects rare background reactions. Decay electrons are tracked in cylindrical wire-chambers and a scintillator array covering 75% of 4π. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Measuring the Michel parameter ξ'

Unlike the majority of Michel parameters which are consistent with the Standard Model V-A interaction, the experimental value of ξ″(=0.65±0.36) [1] is poorly known. Our experiment will measure the longitudinal polarization, P _L , of positrons emitted from the decay of polarized muons. The value of P _L , equal to unity in the Standard Model, will decrease for high energy positrons emitted antiparallel to the muon spin if the combination of Michel parameters ξ″/ξξ′ − 1 deviates from the Standard Model value of zero. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparative Theoretical Study of Hyperfine Interactions of Muonium in A- and B-Form DNA

Muon Spin Relaxation (μSR) experiments in A- and B-form DNA have shown evidence for an enhanced electron mobility in the more closely-packed A-form. Besides dynamic effects (electronic diffusion) that could cause the observed difference in muon spin relaxation, one should also carefully examine the difference in the strengths of the hyperfine interactions of the muon (μ ⁺) with the moving electron in the two forms of DNA, since this could contribute to the observed difference in the muon spin relaxation rates as well. We have therefore investigated the (static) trapping properties of muon and muonium (μ ⁺ e ⁻) in A-form and B-form DNA from first-principles with the aim to understand how the different structural geometries of A- and B-form DNA can influence the hyperfine interaction of trapped muonium.     

Charged lepton flavor violation: An experimenter’s guide

Charged lepton flavor violation (CLFV) is a clear signal of new physics; it directly addresses the physics of flavor and of generations. The search for CLFV has continued from the early 1940s, when the muon was identified as a separate particle, until today. Certainly in the LHC era the motivations for continued searches are clear and have been covered in many reviews. This review is focused on the experimental history with a view toward how these searches might progress. We examine the status of searches for charged lepton flavor violation in the muon, tau, and other channels, and then examine the prospects for new efforts over the next decade. Finally, we examine what paths might be taken after the conclusion of upcoming experiments and what facilities might be required.