Use of Negative Muons: \(\mu ^{-}\) SR and Elemental Analysis

This chapter deals with negative muons. The properties of negative muons (e.g. polarization, lifetime in matter, …) and the thermalization processes in matter leading to atomic capture and the formation of muonic atoms are presented. The use of negative muons for \(\mu ^-\) SR studies (“conventional” or X-ray triggered \(\mu {-}\) SR) is discussed and some examples are shown. The properties of muonic atoms and their use for elemental analysis (MIXE, Muon Induced X-ray Emission) are presented and several examples of applications in applied sciences are shown. Finally, the main features of MIXE are discussed in comparison with other elemental analysis techniques.