Excited state muon transfer in hydrogen/deuterium mixtures

We report the first direct observation of excited state muon transfer in hydrogen/deuterium mixtures by direct measurement of {ital q}{sub 1{ital s}}, the probability that a {mu}{ital p} atom, which is initially formed in an excited state, reaches the 1{ital s} ground state. The dependence of {ital q}{sub 1{ital s}} on deuterium concentration {ital c}{sub {ital d}} was measured for two different densities at cryogenic temperatures using charge coupled devices to detect the muonic x rays. First results based on the analysis of the {ital K}{sub {alpha}} lines of the two isotopes are presented. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}