Open Collections

Radiative muon capture of oxygen, aluminum, silicon, titanium, zirconium, and silver

University of British Columbia

The photon spectra from radiative muon capture (RMC) on oxygen, aluminum, silicon, titanium, zirconium, and silver have been measured for photon energies greater than 57 MeV using a cylindrical pair spectrometer at TRIUMF. Ratios of RMC to ordinary muon capture (OMC) and values of the weak induced pseudoscalar coupling constant (specifically, gp/gA) have been calculated using the observed photon spectra in conjunction with theoretical nuclear RMC models. Present discrepancies between different theoretical calculations mean that experimental values of gp cannot yet be used to make meaningful tests of the partially conserved axial current hypothesis (PCAC). However, trends in RMC/OMC and gp/gA with atomic number indicate an extreme sensitivity of RMC, and nuclear weak virtual pion currents in particular, to Pauli blocking. A future RMC experiment at TRIUMF with the nickel isotopes ⁵⁸Ni, ⁶⁰Ni, and ⁶²Ni will help to clarify the present theoretical situation. Results from RMC on H and ³He are forthcoming shortly from TRIUMF, and will provide direct tests of PCAC.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-02-02

For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/4108

Physics

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace