The mesic - nuclear reactions group of PNPI (MNR group)
The Group is engaged in researches of meso - nuclear reactions occuring in the environment of the hydrogen isotopes and helium under stopping
µ
-muons..
There are muon catalyzed nuclear reactions of dd, pd and dt - fusion, mesic - atoms exchange reactions and also muon capture reactions as on helium and on hydrogen isotopes.
The basis experimental technique of the group is use of operating in hydrogen (or in helium) a high pressure (up to ~ 160 bar) ,ionization chambers ñombining in itself the properties of the "live" target registered the stopping muons and the detector of the reactions charged products.
This method was offered and developed at High Energy Physics Division of PNPI more than 25 years ago and till now remains a unique in this area.
At the last time the Group together with the Department of track detectors develops the hydrogen time-projection chamber (TPC) for precision measurement the rate of a µ-capture reactions on hydrogen.
Here it is necessary to note also an opportunity of studying with the help of the new device the µ -capture reactions and on heavier nuclei - O2 and N2.
Since 1998 the Group works under preparation a new large experiment:
"Precision measurement of the singlet
µp-capture rate in hydrogen gas
It is necessary to note, that since 1989 all specified experiments are carried out within the framework of international collaboration: PNPI (Russia), PSI (Switzerland), LBL (USA), IMEP (Austria), UIUC (USA), TUM (Germany), LOUVAIN (Belgium).