MUON TRANSFER FROM PROTIUM TO HELIUM

Muon transfer from hydrogen isotopes to helium is of importance in muo n-catalyzed fusion and serves as a unique tool for the direct observat ion of the mesomolecular ion (p mu He). During two data-taking runs i n 1994 and 1995 at PSI, measurements of the transfer from protium to h elium were carried out using CCD's and Ge-diodes as independent X-ray detectors to obtain information on the time distribution and intensity of the 7 keV decay X-ray of the mesomolecular ion. Dual H-1(2)+He-4 a nd triple H-1(2) + Ne + He-3,He-4 gas mixtures at low temperatures wer e investigated to extract transfer rates. Protium of high purity was a vailable. For the first time a transfer rate from muonic protium to He -3 was measured. A general survey of our measurements and preliminary analysis is presented.