Advanced muon-spin spectroscopy with high lateral resolution using Si-pixel detectors

Abstract

Muon-spin spectroscopy at continuous sources has stagnated at a stopped muons rate of ~40 kHz for the last few decades. The major limiting factor is the requirement of a single muon in the sample during the typical 10 μs data gate window. To overcome this limit and to be able to perform muon-spin relaxation (μSR) measurements on millimeter-sized samples, one can use vertex reconstruction methods to construct μSR spectra. This is now possible thanks to the availability of very thin monolithic Si-pixel chips, which offer minimal particle scattering and high count rate. Here we present results from a Si-pixel based spectrometer that utilizes vertex reconstruction schemes for the incoming muons and emitted positrons. With this spectrometer we were able to obtain a first vertex reconstructed μSR (VR-μSR) spectrum. The unique capabilities and benefits of such a spectrometer are discussed.