Resonance sidepath in muon catalyzed fusion

We have investigated a previously unconsidered sidepath in muon catalyzed fusion. We have found that high formation rates of metastable {ital dt}{mu}{sup *} molecules in {ital t}{mu}(2{ital s})-D{sub 2} collisions and their subsequent decay into {ital t}{mu}(1{ital s}) {ital or} {ital d}{mu}(1{ital s}) atoms open a return path for the muon from tritium to deuterium. This process can be considered as muon transfer from {ital t}{mu}(2{ital s}) to {ital d}{mu}(1{ital s}) via three-body resonances of {ital dt}{mu}{sup *}. This enlarges the {ital d}{mu}(1{ital s}) population and quenches the muon cycling rate, in agreement with experimental findings.