Abstract
We present a detailed report of the method, setup, analysis, and results of a precision measurement of the positive muon lifetime. The experiment was conducted at the Paul Scherrer Institute using a time-structured, nearly 100% polarized surface muon beam and a segmented, fast-timing plastic scintillator array. The measurement employed two target arrangements: a magnetized ferromagnetic target with a ∼4 kG internal magnetic field and a crystal quartz target in a 130 G external magnetic field. Approximately 1.6×1012 positrons were accumulated and together the data yield a muon lifetime of τμ(MuLan)=2196980.3(2.2) ps (1.0 ppm), 30 times more precise than previous generations of lifetime experiments. The lifetime measurement yields the most accurate value of the Fermi constant GF(MuLan)=1. 1663787(6)×10-5 GeV-2 (0.5 ppm). It also enables new precision studies of weak interactions via lifetime measurements of muonic atoms.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 052003 |
Journal | Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology |
Volume | 87 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 4 2013 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nuclear and High Energy Physics
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)