kaon

American  

[key-on] / ˈkeɪ ɒn /

noun

Physics.

1. a meson with strangeness +1 and either positive or zero electric charge, or its antiparticle, with strangeness −1 and either negative or zero electric charge. K

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kaon British  

/ ˈkeɪɒn /

noun

1. Also called: K-meson.  a meson that has a positive or negative charge and a rest mass of about 966 electron masses, or no charge and a rest mass of 974 electron masses

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kaon Scientific  

/ kā′ŏn′ /

1. Any of three unstable mesons, one having charge +1 and a mass of 966 electron masses, and two being electrically neutral, with a mass 974 electron masses. Their half-life is approximately 10 ⁻⁸ seconds, and they decay through the weak force. Their decay patterns suggest that CP invariance may be violated.

2. Also called K-meson K particle

3. See Table at subatomic particle

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• kaonic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of kaon

1955–60; ka- (spelling of name of letter k ) + (mes)on

Example Sentences

In this case we study how the B meson decays into four other subatomic particles – a kaon, a pion and two muons.

From Science Daily • May 26, 2026

The track she was looking at, later labelled k, was evidence of an unknown particle, now known as the kaon or K meson.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2024

The most frequent decay pattern produced another type of meson, called a kaon, plus pairs of particles and their antiparticles—either an electron and a positron or a muon and an antimuon.

From Scientific American • Dec. 22, 2022

His discovery of the long-lived neutral kaon meson helped to home in on one of the great mysteries of physics.

From Nature • Nov. 4, 2018

Suppose a particle called a kaon is created by cosmic radiation striking the atmosphere.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015