A full description is given of an experiment in which the muonic helium atom, ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}{\mu }^{-}{e}^{-}$, was first observed. The method of the experiment was to study the precession of the magnetic moment of negative muons stopped in 14-atm helium with a 2% Xe admixture. A signal at the characteristic Larmor frequency of the atom was observed with an amplitude which corresponds to a muon residual polarization of 5.0±0.7%. In pure helium at 14 atm, precession characteristic of free muons with a polarization of 5.8±1.3% was found. The hyperfine structure of ${}_{}{}^4{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}{\mu }^{-}{e}^{-}$ and the various processes involved in the formation of this atom are also discussed.

• Received 28 September 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.22.33