Intensity Variations ofK−-Mesonic X Rays

Abstract

We show that there exists a strong correlation between the atomic diameter of target metals and their $K^{-}$ mesonic x-ray intensity. The smaller x-ray intensities observed from smaller atoms suggests that the initial capture into large angular momentum states is inhibited in smaller atoms which could be understood if the meson is not localized about a single atom until its kinetic energy is somewhat less than has been presumed. This tendency for mesons to avoid higher angular momentum states when captured by small atoms also explains some previous muonic-atom results.