What is the difference between an electron muon and tau?

The next-heavier charged lepton is the muon. There is a third, heavier type of charged lepton, called the tau. The tau, with a mass of 1,777 MeV, is even heavier than the proton and has a very short lifetime of about 10−13 second. Like the electron and the muon, the tau has its associated neutrino.

Is it possible for a tau lepton to decay into only hadrons?

The tau is the only lepton that can decay into hadrons – the other leptons do not have the necessary mass. Like the other decay modes of the tau, the hadronic decay is through the weak interaction.

What causes a muon to decay?

Muons are a component of cosmic rays. When a particle of high energy coming from space collides with a nucleus of the upper atmosphere, it produces a shower of particles that interact and decay in their turn.

What is a muon and a tau?

The charged leptons are the electrons, muons, and taus. Electrons, the lightest leptons, have a mass only 1/1,840 that of a proton. Muons are heavier, having more than 200 times as much mass as electrons. Taus, in turn, are approximately 3,700 times more massive than electrons.

What are the main differences between a lepton and a hadron?

Hadrons are particles that feel the strong nuclear force, whereas leptons are particles that do not. The proton, neutron, and the pions are examples of hadrons. The electron, positron, muons, and neutrinos are examples of leptons, the name meaning low mass. Leptons feel the weak nuclear force.

Is a tau particle a lepton?

tau, elementary subatomic particle similar to the electron but 3,477 times heavier. Like the electron and the muon, the tau is an electrically charged member of the lepton family of subatomic particles; the tau is negatively charged, while its antiparticle is positively charged.

What is the muon decay experiment?

Muon decay experiment When a muon is stopped in a material, it is usually captured by an atom of the material. Then, two possible processes contribute to our observed signal. One is that the captured muon decays weakly and gives rise to an energetic electron which can excite the atoms or molecules in the medium.

What happens in a decay?

At the time of the decay event the decay energy is split between the residual atom (actually an ion at this point) and any particles and/or photon radiation produced at the time. The beta particle and the antineutrino are immediately ejected from the nucleus and completely out of the atom.

Is Tau a lepton?

Like the electron and the muon, the tau is an electrically charged member of the lepton family of subatomic particles; the tau is negatively charged, while its antiparticle is positively charged.

Why do electrons and muons have different wavelengths?

Both electrons and muons were accelerated from rest by the same potential difference. Explain why they have different wavelengths. Wavelength is inversely proportional to momentum so gain in momentum is different for both. Therefore the smallest mass has the largest acceleration/gain in speed.