Semi-empirical analysis of leptons in gases in crossed electric and magnetic fields. Part II. Transverse compression of muon beams

Abstract

This article employs fluid equations to analyze muon beams in gases subject to crossed electric and magnetic fields, focusing, in particular, on a scheme proposed by Taqqu [Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 194801 (2006)], whereby transverse compression of the beam is achieved by creating a density gradient in the gas. A general criterion for maximizing beam compression, derived from first principles, is then applied to determine optimal experimental conditions for μ+ in helium gas. Although the calculations require the input of transport data for (μ+, He), which are generally unavailable, this issue is circumvented by “aliasing” (μ+, He) with (H+, He), for which transport coefficient data are available.