muon

[ myoo-on ]

noun

, Physics.

1. a lepton similar in most respects to the electron except that it is unstable, it may be positively charged, and its mass is approximately 207 times greater; the positively charged muon is the antiparticle of the negatively charged muon. : μ

muon

/ ˈmjuːɒn; mjuːˈɒnɪk /

noun

1. a positive or negative elementary particle with a mass 207 times that of an electron and spin 1 2 . It was originally called the mu meson but is now classified as a lepton

muon

/ myo̅o̅′ŏn′ /

1. An elementary particle in the lepton family having a mass 209 times that of the electron, a negative electric charge, and a mean lifetime of 2.2 × 10 ^-6 seconds. The muon was originally called the mu-meson and was once thought to be a meson.
2. See Table at subatomic particle

Derived Forms

• muonic, adjective

Other Words From

• mu·onic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of muon¹

1950–55; by shortening of mu meson; mu, -on ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of muon¹

C20: short for mu meson

Example Sentences

Each second, about 100 billion neutrinos from the sun pass through your thumbnail, and you’re bathed in a rain of muons, birthed in Earth’s atmosphere.

From Science News

The more than 5,000 detectors above ground watch for the ensemble of particles raining down after both cosmic ray strikes and gamma ray strikes, while the more than 1,000 underground detectors sense only muons.

From Popular-Science

This way the scientists can generate a beam of muons that they can study, instead of a diffuse shower.

From Science News

The best explanation, physicists say, is that the muon is being influenced by forms of matter and energy that are not yet known to science, but which may nevertheless affect the nature and evolution of the universe.

From Singularity Hub 

In 2001, an experiment hinted that one property of the muon was not exactly as the standard model predicted, but new studies were needed to confirm.

From Singularity Hub 

The behavior of the muon is well understood, but its role as one of the elementary particles is unknown.

From Project Gutenberg

The muon is unstable, eventually undergoing a radioactive decay into an electron.

From Project Gutenberg

Although the muon does not experience nuclear forces, it can interact weakly with nuclei.

From Project Gutenberg

That is, if the muon did not exist, what effect would this have on the structure of matter?

From Project Gutenberg