Note on Stimulated Decay of Negative Mesons

Abstract

Theories in which the decay of negative mesons is accelerated by electrostatic fields are investigated. Such theories always give radiative decay for free mesons. The competition of radiationless decay of negative mesons increases with $Z^5$, and the two rates become equal for a value of $Z$, which depends somewhat on the choice of coupling, but which, for one simple form, is 12. Experimental evidence probably disproves theories of this kind.