Muon capture reaction on $^{100}Mo$ to study nuclear responses for double beta decays and astro-neutrinos

TL;DR

This study investigates the muon capture reaction on $^{100}Mo$ to understand nuclear responses relevant for double beta decay and supernova neutrino interactions, providing new experimental data on neutrino-nucleus responses.

Contribution

First measurement of muon capture on $^{100}Mo$, revealing the neutrino response and giant resonance distribution relevant for astrophysics and neutrino physics.

Findings

Neutron emission distribution from muon capture was measured.

Neutrino response strength is concentrated around 11-14 MeV.

Giant resonance-like distribution observed at the peak energy.

Abstract

The negative-muon capture reaction (MCR) on the enriched $^{100}Mo$ isotope was studied for the first time to investigate neutrino nuclear response for neutrino-less double beta decays and supernova neutrino nuclear interactions. MCR on $^{100}Mo$ proceeds mainly as $^{100}Mo(mu,xn)^{100-x}Nb$ with $x$ being the number of neutrons emitted from MCR. The Nb isotope mass distribution was obtained by measuring delayed gamma-rays from radioactive $^{100-x}Nb$. By using the neutron emission model after MCR, the neutrino response (the strength distribution) for MCR was derived. Giant resonance (GR)-like distribution at the peak energy around 11-14 MeV, suggests concentration of the MCR strength at the muon capture GR region.