SciPost Phys. Proc. 5, 017 (2021) ·
published 6 September 2021
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The singlet muon capture rate $\Lambda_S$ on the proton $\mu^-\ p \to \nu_\mu n$ is determined in a high precision lifetime measurement. The main apparatus consists of a new hydrogen time projection chamber as muon detector, developed by PSI, surrounded by cylindrical wire chambers and a plastic scintillator hodoscope as electron detectors. The parameter $\Lambda_S$ is evaluated as the difference between the inverse $\mu\,p$ lifetime and that of the free $\mu^+$. The result $\Lambda_S^\text{MuCap} = (715.6 \pm 5.4^\text{stat} \pm 5.1^\text{sys})\,\text{s}^{-1}$ is in excellent agreement with the prediction of chiral perturbation theory $\Lambda_S^{\chi\text{PT}} = (715.4 \pm 6.9)\,\text{s}^{-1}$. From $\Lambda_S^\text{MuCap}$ a recent analysis derives for the induced pseudoscalar coupling $g^\text{MuCap}_p = 8.23 \pm 0.83$ whereas $\bar{g}^{\chi\text{PT}}_p = 8.25 \pm 0.25$.}
