Fusion induced by mu-mesons

Abstract

An experiment has recently been reported from which it has been inferred that the (p, d) reaction is catalysed by the presence of mu-mesons forming mosic atoms and molecules. A brief analysis is made in this note of the reaction rates necessary to explain the experimental results. The relatively large number of events observed in which the meson takes away the energy released in the reaction can be understood as the result of conversion of an electric monopole transition.