A computational method to study three-body rearrangement processes for nonzero total angular momentum is presented. The method is applied to muon exchange between muonic hydrogen and a heavier nucleus $X^{Z+}:p\mu +X^{Z+}\to p+{\left(\mu X\right)}^{(Z-1)+}$. Muon-transfer rates are calculated for oxygen and neon including partial waves up to $J=4$ for collision energies in the range ${10}^{-3}–10\text{eV}$. An excellent agreement is obtained with available experimental results.

• Received 4 February 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.69.062501