Cascade Transitions in Heavy Hadronic Hydrogen Atoms.

The majority of deexcited hadronic atoms (hX) (h = K[sup -], &pmacr;, ... and X = p, d, t) are accelerated up to energies of about 100 eV due to Coulomb transitions. The diffusion model of Stark transitions is developed. The resulting nuclear capture rate is higher than that in Bethe-Leon theory by a factor not less than five. Thus, only nonaccelerated atoms can survive. Therefore, the yield Y of K[sub α] x rays is significantly less (by a factor of about ten) than that calculated in standard cascade models and is approximately equal to 0.2% and 1.0% for (K[sup -]p) atoms at hydrogen densities of N= 2 x 10[sup 21] and 5 x 10[sup 20] atom/cm³, respectively. The scheme of a more accurate calculation of Y is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]