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.

Origin of muon

1950-55; by shortening of mu meson; see mu, -on¹

Related forms

muonic, adjective

Examples from the web for muon

They wrongly claim that from muon's perspective, the sea level approaches muon travelling the contracted length.
Pohl and his team have a come up with a smaller number by using a cousin of the electron, known as the muon.
As with muon-catalyzed fusion, reality does not automatically translate to practical application.
So, the signature to look for when searching for top quarks is: one muon, one neutrino and four jets.
Neutrinos come in three varieties: muon, tau, and electron.
These particles come in three types or flavours: electron, muon and tau neutrinos.
Occasional collisions between neutrinos and ice create a particle called a muon that gives off a slight blue light.
Also, from a sub-atomic basis, muon and tau should be measured.
Scientists around the world are developing the technologies necessary for a muon accelerator.
Development of high intense surface muon beam using a large solid angle axial focusing channel.

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) adjective

Word Origin

C20: short for mu meson

muon in Science

muon

(my'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 × 10^-6 seconds. The muon was originally called the mu-meson and was once thought to be a meson. See Table at subatomic particle.