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Natural Science Forum / Physics / Particle Physics / August 2005Is there a difference between a high speed electron and a muon?
When the velocity of an electron approaches the speed of light, its wavelength decreases, and its mass increases. When the electron is moving at a certain speed, its mass will equal the mass of a muon. What are the differences between this electron and the muon? > When the velocity of an electron approaches the speed of light, its > wavelength decreases, and its mass increases. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > What are the differences between this electron and the muon? Well, one is moving and the other is still at rest. Similarly your family car can achieve the kinetic energy of a truck. Rene > When the velocity of an electron approaches the speed of light, its > wavelength decreases, and its mass increases. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > What are the differences between this electron and the muon? Rest mass, among other things. > When the velocity of an electron approaches the speed of light, its > wavelength decreases, and its mass increases. The *rest* mass does not. > When the electron is moving at a certain speed, its mass will equal the > mass of a muon. > > What are the differences between this electron and the muon? The *rest* mass. The lepton number (look up weak charged current). PD >What are the differences between this electron and the muon? If the electron undergoes a charged-current weak interaction (i.e. mediated by W boson), an electron-neutrino comes out. If the muon undergoes a charged-current weak interaction, a muon-neutrino comes out. I expect the next question will be, "What is the difference between an electron-neutrino and a muon-neutrino?" :-) If it's a muon-neutrino, when it later undergoes a charged-current weak interaction, it will usually produce a muon. If it's an electron-neutrino, when it later undergoes a charged-current weak interaction, it will usually produce an electron. I say "usually" because there is a certain probability (depending on energy and distance traveled) that an electron-neutrino will convert itself into a muon-neutrino and vice versa. Look up "neutrino oscillations".  SignatureJon Bell <jtbell@presby.edu> Presbyterian College Dept. of Physics and Computer Science Clinton, South Carolina USA I did not phrase my question very well. I will try again. Apart from their speeds, what are the differences that can be *experimentally detected*, between a fast electron and a slow muon? >Apart from their speeds, what are the differences that can be >*experimentally detected*, between a fast electron and a slow muon? Muons decay (with a mean lifetime of 2.2 microseconds when at rest, if I remember correctly). Electrons don't. SignatureJon Bell <jtbell@presby.edu> Presbyterian College Dept. of Physics and Computer Science Clinton, South Carolina USA > >Apart from their speeds, what are the differences that can be > >*experimentally detected*, between a fast electron and a slow muon? [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Jon Bell <jtbell@presby.edu> Presbyterian College > Dept. of Physics and Computer Science Clinton, South Carolina USA I said a slow muon, not a muon at rest. Also, if the muon decayed, it would no longer exist, and therefore could not be moving. While the muon is moving, it cannot possibly have decayed yet, so its decay products can not be used to detect a difference. >>>Apart from their speeds, what are the differences that can be >>>*experimentally detected*, between a fast electron and a slow muon? [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > While the muon is moving, it cannot possibly have decayed yet, so its > decay products can not be used to detect a difference. Golden Boar--Motion of a muon doesn't keep it from decaying, but relativistic velocity 9with respect to the observer) changes its measured mean life time. Muon do exist and they are *not* stable particles. I never said the motion of the muons keeps it from decaying. I said that while a muon is moving it has not yet decayed. If it had decayed it would no longer be a muon that was moving, so the detection must take place before the muon decays. > I never said the motion of the muons keeps it from decaying. > I said that while a muon is moving it has not yet decayed. > If it had decayed it would no longer be a muon that was moving, so the > detection must take place before the muon decays. or... we detect the decay products and energies. > > >Apart from their speeds, what are the differences that can be > > >*experimentally detected*, between a fast electron and a slow muon? [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > While the muon is moving, it cannot possibly have decayed yet, so its > decay products can not be used to detect a difference. Well, if you want an instantanous measurement, (without thinking about quantum and relativistic effects-I have no idea whether those are relevant or how they'd affect stuff) a fast moving electron would produce a greater magnetic field than a slow muon (both have the same charge if I'm not mistaken). They'd probably have different paths when subjected to a magnetic field too. Just my guess... Aydin > I did not phrase my question very well. I will try again. > > Apart from their speeds, what are the differences that can be > *experimentally detected*, between a fast electron and a slow muon? A fast electron will not penetrate iron. A slow muon most probably will, as long as it's not *too* slow. PD >> I did not phrase my question very well. I will try again. >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >PD Because of the difference in their rest masses, the 'curlicues' made by electrons and muons in particle detectors have a different radius of curvature in a crossed E-B field. Using crossed E-B fields is an old trick. the softrat Sometimes I get so tired of the taste of my own toes. mailto:softrat@pobox.com -- He's about as subtle as a chainsaw, but lacking the social grace. |
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