ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

An exciting muonium experiment

Abstract: Photo-excited SR is a novel experimental technique where light from a laser is used to create excited states in a material, and the effect of such states on the muon s spin state is observed. Such a technique is excellent for studying defects in semiconductors, as the muon behaves in a similar way to a light isotope of hydrogen, and the sensitivity of the muon to its local charge environment makes it an excellent probe for measuring carrier lifetimes in semiconductors. Nevertheless, the technique generally involves photo-inducing excitations in the bulk of the material, rather than photo-exciting the levels of the muonium directly: while studies have been able to observe the 1S-2S transition in free muonium, attempts to observe photo-excited bound muonium have so far been inconclusive. In this experiment, we wish to attempt to excite the electronic levels of muonium inside MgF2, to prove that such an experiment is possible and lay the groundwork for more advanced future experiments.

Local Contact: Dr John Wilkinson
Experimenter: Dr James Lord
Experimenter: Dr Koji Yokoyama
Experimenter: Dr Leandro Liborio

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2610643

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2610643

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Dr John Wilkinson et al; (2026): An exciting muonium experiment, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2610643

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