MEASUREMENT OF HYPERFINE TRANSITION RATES IN MUONIC F-19, NA-23, P-31, AND (NAT)CL

From the time dependence of the (mu-, nv) reaction we have determined the hyperfine transition rates for the muonic atoms of F-19, Na-23, an d (nat)Cl, obtaining LAMBDA(h) = 4.9 +/- 1.2 mus-1, 8.4 +/- 1.9 mus-1, and 6.5 +/- 0.9 mus-1, respectively. Further, from the branching rati os of the (mu-1, nu) reaction on muonic P-31 we have inferred a hyperf ine transition rate that is much faster than the muon disappearance ra te, LAMBDA(h) much greater than LAMBDA(D). These results are in reason able agreement with the rates calculated for Auger emission, and quali tatively confirm the correction to the muonic atom's hyperfine splitti ng due to the distribution of magnetism in the nucleus. The P-31 resul t, however, disagrees with an earlier suggestion of the inhibition of Auger emission.