Muon spin rotation studies at SIN

Abstract

Recently the accelerator and the muon channel at SIN became operational. We report here on some of the first positive muon spin rotation experiments at SIN. The first experiment we discuss concerns the chemistry of muonium. We have observed for the first time a muonium or radical signal in pure water. Next, we discuss the application of the positive muon for the study of ferromagnetic metals and alloys. First measurements on a single crystal of iron around liquid helium temperature seem to indicate that at low temperature the muon does not diffuse. We further report on the first stroboscopic observation of the muon spin rotation which will allow one to take full advantage of the high stopping density at SIN.