Muonic molecule formation rates in HD and H/sub 2/+D/sub 2/ gases

An investigation is underway at TRIUMF of the formation rates of the ddμ and pdμ molecules in gaseous targets of hydrogen isotopes. Due to a resonance mechanism, formation of the ddμ molecule shows a striking temperature dependence, whereas the pdμ formation does not. The formation off the muonic molecules is signalled by a nuclear fusion, either d+d vector /sup 3/He+μ or d+p vector /sup 3/He+Υ. In a preliminary test run the authors observed the fusion neutrons and gamma rays from the H/sub 2/+D/sub 2/ mixture but not from the HD. A large difference is expected between H/sub 2/+D/sub 2/ and HD in the case of the ddμ formation. The authors' test run was at room temperature and 35 atm pressure. The gas samples are currently undergoing chemical analysis because purities on the level of 10/sup 6/ are required to observe the ddμ formation. These results and future plans for this measurement are discussed