Muonic atoms with extreme nuclear charge

TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical stabilization of highly charged nuclei through bound muons, which can become stable if their binding energy exceeds their rest mass energy, potentially altering nuclear stability.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model of muonic atoms with extreme nuclear charge, analyzing conditions under which muons become stable within highly charged nuclei.

Findings

Muons can stabilize highly charged nuclei by increasing the fission barrier.

Muons become stable when their binding energy exceeds their rest mass energy.

The study identifies specific conditions for muon stability in exotic nuclei.

Abstract

Bound muons (also pions, kaons, etc) increase the fission barrier and produce some stabilizing effects for highly charged nuclei. If the binding energy of the muon exceeds $mc^2$, it becomes stable. The $1s$ state of a muon inside an exotic nucleus with atomic number $A= 5Z/2$ and such large charge $Z$ that the $1s$ energy $E$ is in the range $0\le E<-mc^2$ is considered.