Measurement of atomic capture probabilities of negative pions in metal hydrides

Atomic capture probabilities of negative pions in some metal hydrides were measured. The capture by a hydrogen atom was detected by means of a pair of the annihilation γ rays of π0 which had been produced by the charge-exchange reaction of π− with the capturing hydrogen nucleus (proton). This method ensures a high sensitivity and reliability of the measurements. The probabilities obtained were in agreement with previous measurements except for palladium hydride, which showed a much smaller probability than that given in the literature. The atomic capture of π− is well described in the framework of the large mesic molecular model, in which the proportionality constant reflects the chemical states of the capturing atoms and also the neighboring ones.