Muon decay in orbit: Spectrum of high-energy electrons
Abstract
Experimental searches for lepton-flavor-violating coherent muon-to-electron conversion in the field of a nucleus, have been proposed to reach the unprecedented sensitivity of 10-16-10-18 per stopped muon. At that level, they probe new interactions at effective-mass scales well beyond 1000 TeV. However, they must contend with background from ordinary bound muon decay. To better understa560nd the background-spectrum shape and rate, we have carried out a detailed analysis of Coulombic-bound-state muon decay, including nuclear recoil. Implications for future experiments are briefly discussed.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- July 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.84.013006
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1106.4756
- Bibcode:
- 2011PhRvD..84a3006C
- Keywords:
-
- 13.35.Bv;
- 36.10.Ee;
- Decays of muons;
- Muonium muonic atoms and molecules;
- High Energy Physics - Phenomenology;
- High Energy Physics - Experiment
- E-Print:
- 11 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.D. v2: One sentence modified to avoid possible misunderstandings. Journal version