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Register a new userImproved Measurement of the Positive Muon Lifetime and Determination of the Fermi Constant
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The mean life of the positive muon has been measured to a precision of 11 ppm using a low-energy, pulsed muon beam stopped in a ferromagnetic target, which was surrounded by a scintillator detector array. The result, tau_mu = 2.197013(24) us, is in excellent agreement with the previous world average. The new world average tau_mu = 2.197019(21) us determines the Fermi constant G_F = 1.166371(6) x 10^-5 GeV^-2 (5 ppm). Additionally, the precision measurement of the positive muon lifetime is needed to determine the nucleon pseudoscalar coupling g_P.
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We report results from the MuLan measurement of the positive muon lifetime. The experiment was conducted at the Paul Scherrer Institute using a time-structured surface muon beam and a segmented plastic scintillator array. Two different in-vacuum muon stopping targets were used: a ferromagnetic foil with a large internal magnetic field and a quartz crystal in a moderate external magnetic field. From a total of 1.6 x 10^{12} decays, we obtained the muon lifetime tau_mu = 2196980.3(2.2) ps (1.0 ppm) and Fermi constant G_F = 1.1663787(6) x 10^{-5} GeV^{-2} (0.5 ppm).
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 x 10^{12} positrons were accumulated and together the data yield a muon lifetime of tau_{mu}(MuLan) = 2196980.3(2.2) ps (1.0 ppm), thirty times more precise than previous generations of lifetime experiments. The lifetime measurement yields the most accurate value of the Fermi constant G_F (MuLan) = 1.1663787(6) x 10^{-5} GeV^{-2} (0.5 ppm). It also enables new precision studies of weak interactions via lifetime measurements of muonic atoms.
We report a measurement of the positive muon lifetime to a precision of 1.0 parts per million (ppm); it is the most precise particle lifetime ever measured. The experiment used a time-structured, low-energy muon beam and a segmented plastic scintillator array to record more than 2 x 10^{12} decays. Two different stopping target configurations were employed in independent data-taking periods. The combined results give tau_{mu^+}(MuLan) = 2196980.3(2.2) ps, more than 15 times as precise as any previous experiment. The muon lifetime gives the most precise value for the Fermi constant: G_F(MuLan) = 1.1663788 (7) x 10^-5 GeV^-2 (0.6 ppm). It is also used to extract the mu^-p singlet capture rate, which determines the protons weak induced pseudoscalar coupling g_P.
The Fermi Constant, G_F, describes the strength of the weak force and is determined most precisely from the mean life of the positive muon, tau_mu. Advances in theory have reduced the theoretical uncertainty on G_F as calculated from tau_mu to a few tenths of a part per million (ppm). Until recently, the remaining uncertainty on G_F was entirely experimental and dominated by the uncertainty on tau_mu. We report the MuLan collaborations recent 1.0 ppm measurement of the positive muon lifetime. This measurement is over a factor of 15 more precise than any previous measurement, and is the most precise particle lifetime ever measured. The experiment used a time-structured low-energy muon beam and an array of plastic scintillators read-out by waveform digitizers and a fast data acquisition system to record over 2 times 10^{12} muon decays. Two different in-vacuum muon-stopping targets were used in separate data-taking periods. The results from these two data-taking periods are in excellent agreement. The combined results give tau_{mu^+}({MuLan})=2196980.3(2.2) ps. This measurement of the muon lifetime gives the most precise value for the Fermi Constant: G_F({MuLan}) = 1.1663788 (7) times 10^{-5} {GeV}^{-2} (0.6 ppm). The lifetime is also used to extract the mu^-p singlet capture rate, which determines the protons weak induced pseudoscalar coupling g_P.
The part-per-million measurement of the positive muon lifetime and determination of the Fermi constant by the MuLan experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute is reviewed. The experiment used an innovative, time-structured, surface muon beam and a near-4pi, finely-segmented, plastic scintillator positron detector. Two in-vacuum muon stopping targets were used: a ferromagnetic foil with a large internal magnetic field, and a quartz crystal in a moderate external magnetic field. The experiment obtained a muon lifetime 2 196 980.3(2.2) ps (1.0 ppm) and a Fermi constant 1.166 378 7(6) 10^-5 GeV^-2 (0.5 ppm). The thirty-fold improvement in the muon lifetime has proven valuable for precision measurements in nuclear muon capture and the commensurate improvement in the Fermi constant has proven valuable for precision tests of the standard model.
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