Nuclear and molecular processes in muon-catalyzed fusion.

Abstract

The dt-αn continuum in the presence of the muon is studied in detail, and it is shown that the existence of extended continuum states just beneath the d+(tμ)₁(s) threshold can lead to a variety of 'pseudoresonant' fusion processes with a temperature and density dependence distinct from those leading to molecular formation. Various in-flight and pseudoresonant fusion reaction cross sections involving the excitation of electromolecular states and two or three scattering bodies are computed. Fusion processes in very dense plasmas of ∼10³ liquid hydrogen density are studied, and it is shown that in this environment both sticking and muon transfer problems are eliminated, and that pseudoresonant fusion processes should dominate. In this context, the use of negatively charged hadrons as potential catalytic particles is also considered.