Muon Capture on Carbon

Abstract

To check the predictions of a universal Fermi interaction, negative muons were brought to rest in a 1½-in. filament scintillator chamber and the rate for the reaction ${\mu }^{-}+{\mathrm{C}}^{12}\to {\mathrm{B}}^{12}+\nu$ was measured. Ninety-seven ${\mathrm{B}}^{12}$ events were observed, giving a capture rate of (6.6±0.9)×${10}^3$/sec. This number is in agreement with the predictions of a universal Fermi interaction, a pion-induced pseudoscalar term with $g_P=+8\mathrm{}{g}_A$, and a conserved vector current.