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Spin Depolarization of Muonium in Mesoporous Silica

TitleSpin Depolarization of Muonium in Mesoporous Silica
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsDehn, MH, Arseneau, DJ, Bridges, MD, Buck, T, Cortie, DL, Cottrell, SP, Fleming, DG, Kelly, JA, MacFarlane, WA, MacLachlan, MJ, Morris, GD, McKenzie, I, Xiao, J, Kiefl, RF
EditorSalman, Z, Amato, A, Luetkens, H, Morenzoni, E
Conference Name13TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MUON SPIN ROTATION, RELAXATION AND RESONANCE
PublisherPaul Scherrer Inst, Lab Muon Spin Spectroscopy; Univ Zurich; Univ Fribourg; Swiss Natl Fdn; Costruzioni Apparecchiature Elettroniche Nucleari S p A; X TRONIX AG; BlueFors Cryogen Oy Ltd; TECO Rene Koch; Teledyne LeCroy SA
Abstract

We report muon spin rotation/relaxation measurements of muonium in mesoporous silica (SBA-15) with a high specific surface area of 600 m(2)/g. Up to 70 percent of the incoming muons form muonium and escape efficiently into the open pores at all temperatures between 3 and 300K. We present evidence that the interaction with the silica surfaces involves both spin exchange and a transition to a diamagnetic state, possibly due to dangling bonds on the surface. At very low temperatures, below 20K, the interaction between muonium and the silica surfaces is suppressed due to a He film coating the surfaces. These results indicate that it should be possible to use muonium to probe the surfaces of uncapped nanoparticles supported in silica.

DOI10.1088/1742-6596/551/1/012006