muon
[ myoo-on ]
/ ˈmyu ɒn /
|
noun Physics.
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. Symbol: μ
Nearby words
Related forms
mu·on·ic, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for muon
Although the muon does not experience nuclear forces, it can interact weakly with nuclei.
LRL Accelerators|Lawrence Radiation LaboratoryThe behavior of the muon is well understood, but its role as one of the elementary particles is unknown.
LRL Accelerators|Lawrence Radiation LaboratoryThe muon is unstable, eventually undergoing a radioactive decay into an electron.
LRL Accelerators|Lawrence Radiation LaboratoryThat is, if the muon did not exist, what effect would this have on the structure of matter?
LRL Accelerators|Lawrence Radiation Laboratory
British Dictionary definitions for muon
muon
/ (ˈmjuːɒn) /
noun
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
Derived Forms
muonic (mjuːˈɒnɪk), adjectiveWord Origin for muon
C20: short for mu meson
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Science definitions for muon
muon
[ myōō′ŏn′ ]
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 X 10-6 seconds. The muon was originally called the mu-meson and was once thought to be a meson. See Table at subatomic particle.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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