Addition and spin exchange rate constants by longitudinal field μSR: The Mu+NO reaction

The addition reaction Mu+NO+M→MuNO+M and the spin exchange reaction Mu(↑) +MO(↓)→Mu(↓)+NO(↑) have been measured by longitudinal field μSR at room temperature in the presence of up to 58 atm of N₂ as inert collider. The pressure dependence of the longitudinal relaxation rate due to the addition reaction (λ_c) demostrates that the system is still in the low pressure regime in this pressure range. The corresponding termolecular rate constant has been determined ask _0,Mu =(1.10±0.25)×10⁻³² cm⁶ molecules⁻² s⁻¹, almost 4 times smaller than the corresponding H atom reactionk _0,H=3.90×10⁻³² cm⁶ molecules⁻² s⁻¹ I.M. Campbell et al., J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 1.71 (1975) 2097]. The average value of the spin exchange rate constants in the 2.5–58 atm pressure range,k _SE=(3.16±0.06)×10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, is in good agreement with previous values obtained by transverse field μSR D.G. Fleming et al., J. Chem. Phys. 73 (1980) 2751].