"Fast" Depolarization of Positive Muons in Solution-the Chemistry of Atomic Muonium

Abstract

The initial magnitude and direction of the residual asymmetry in the decays of polarized positive muons stopped in solutions in transverse magnetic fields are observed to depend strongly upon the concentration of dissolved compounds. Such effects were seen in methanol solutions of ${\mathrm{I}}_2$ and in aqueous solutions of Fe${\mathrm{Cl}}_3$ and Fe(${\mathrm{CI}}_4$)${\mathrm{O}}_3$. The underlying fast depolarization mechanism can be qualitatively and quantitatively understood by assuming muonium formation with subsequent chemical reaction of the atomic muonium with dissolved compounds.