Muon Capture on Light Isotopes Measured with the Double Chooz Detector

Using the Double Chooz detector, designed to measure the neutrino mixing angle theta(13), the products of mu(-) capture on C-12, C-13, N-14, and O-16 have been measured. Over a period of 489.5 days, 2.3 x 10(6) stopping cosmic mu(-) have been collected, of which 1.8 x 10(5) captured on carbon, nitrogen, or oxygen nuclei in the inner detector scintillator or acrylic vessels. The resulting isotopes were tagged using prompt neutron emission (when applicable), the subsequent beta decays, and, in some cases, beta-delayed neutrons. The most precise measurement of the rate of C-12(mu(-), nu)B-12 to date is reported: 6.57(-0.21)(+0.11) x 10(3) s(-1), or (17.35(-0.59)(+0.35))% of nuclear captures. By tagging excited states emitting gamma s, the ground state transition rate to B-12 has been determined to be 5.68(-0.23)(+0.14) x 10(3) s(-1). The heretofore unobserved reactions C-12(mu(-), nu alpha)Li-8, C-13(mu(-), nu n alpha)Li-8, and C-13(mu(-), nu n)B-12 are measured. Further, a population of beta n decays following stopping muons is identified with 5.5 sigma significance. Statistics limit our ability to identify these decays definitively. Assuming negligible production of He-8, the reaction C-13(mu(-), nu alpha)Li-9 is found to be present at the 2.7 sigma level. Limits are set on a variety of other processes.