The decay of the isotopes179Ir and180Ir

The probability for non-radiative (n.r.) excitations in muonic²⁰⁹Bi was determined from a ( ^–,)-measurement by comparing the intensities of muonic X-ray transitions in single and coincidence spectra. The values of P_n.r(3p1s)=(17.9±2.0)% and P_n.r.(3d1s)=(3.0±2.2)% were measured for the first time. The strength of the n.r. decay of the 2p-level was found to be (4.2±2.2)%. The n.r. transition probabilities of two subcomplexes of the (2p1s)-transition leading to different mean excitation energies are (3.2±1.8)% and (5.0±2.0)%, respectively.We are indebted to the following institutes or organizations for financial support: Bundesministerium ffir Forschung und Technologic der Bundesrepubfik Deutschland contract number 06 BN 271 (HP, PD, HH, FR, CR), Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) and the Netherlands Organization of the Advancement of Pure Research (NWO) (JK, CTAMdL, WL, AT) and the Schweizer Nationalfonds (LS).