ミュオン触媒核融合を駆動するミュオン分子の直接観測に世界で初めて成功—高分解能X線分光法を使い理論モデルを実験で実証—

2026-04-16 中部大学

µCF反応過程におけるミュオン分子とミュオン原子からのX線放出のイメージ

＜関連情報＞

• https://www.chubu.ac.jp/news/56071/
• https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aed3321

ミューオン触媒核融合に不可欠な共鳴状態にあるミューオン分子の直接観測 Direct observation of muonic molecules in resonance states critical to muon catalyzed fusion

Y. Toyama, T. Azuma, D. A. Bennett, W. B. Doriese, […] , and T. Yamashita
Science Advances  Published:15 Apr 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aed3321

Abstract

Muon catalyzed fusion (μCF) is a plasma-free process in which the formation of muonic hydrogen molecules precedes and enables fusion between their constituent nuclei. Despite decades of study, the reaction dynamics of μCF remain elusive. Recent theories predict that resonance states of the muonic molecules play a key role and that these states can be probed using x-ray techniques. Using an array of transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters with 10-fold improved energy resolution compared to conventional silicon detectors, we observed x-rays from resonance states of muonic deuterium molecules despite an intense background. The spectrum is well explained by high-precision calculations incorporating the vibrational states. This work identifies the long-overlooked resonance state pathway as crucial in μCF and provides the direct evidence of the efficient muonic molecular formation.