Evidence for strong n-α correlations in the t + t reaction proved by the neutron energy distribution of muon catalyzed t - t fusion

We conducted a neutron measurement associated with muon catalyzed t-t fusion reactions, t + t + μ^- → α + n + n + μ^- + Q (11.33 MeV), in a solid T₂ target formed by a high-purity tritium gas (98.9%) with a deuterium component of less than 100 ppm. The observed fusion neutrons showed a continuous energy distribution with a shoulder at 6 MeV and the maximum energy at 9 MeV. This feature is inconsistent with the reaction Q-value and three-particle decay with no particle correlations at the exit channel. The obtained neutron-energy distribution was well reproduced by a simple model with two neutron-energy components. The result suggests strong n - α correlations in the three-particle decay at the exit channel of the t + t reactions which proceed at an extremely low energy through ttμ mesomolecule formation.