MUON-CATALYZED DD FUSION BETWEEN 25-K AND 150-K - THEORETICAL-ANALYSIS

We present a detailed theoretical analysis of experimental rates for d dmu molecular formation and dmu hyperfine transitions at temperatures 25.5-150 K, which were reported by Zmeskal et al. [Phys. Rev. A 42, 11 65 (1990)]. Theoretical effective ddmu formation rates are fitted to t he observed rates by adjusting the ddmu binding energy epsilon11, the effective dd fusion rate lambda(f), and the nonresonant ddmu formation rate lambda(nr). The value of epsilon11 = -1966.1+/-0.2 meV is determ ined with extreme accuracy and agrees with the theoretical prediction within 0.1 meV. Experimental findings for lambda(nr), are compatible w ith theory. Since the value of lambda(f) extracted from observed forma tion rates depends on the calculated value of ddmu formation matrix el ements \V(if)\, we present the region of pairs (lambda(f), \V(if)\) al lowed by experiment. The theoretical values of lambda(f) and \V(if)\ l ie outside this region. A significant discrepancy remains for the dmu hyperfine transitions, where the theoretical rates, which consist of s cattering and back-decay contributions, exceed experimental rates by a pproximately 40%. Fits of the experimental data indicate that mostly t he scattering contribution is smaller than calculated. The extrapolati on of our fit to higher temperatures is in good agreement with other e xperiments on ddmu formation.