muonscharged

A muon, denoted by the Greek letter mu (μ), is a subatomic particle similar to the electron but with a greater mass. It carries a negative electric charge, like an electron, or a positive electric charge, in which case it is called a positron. Muons are classified as leptons and are members of the second generation of elementary particles in the Standard Model of particle physics. They are unstable particles, meaning they decay into lighter particles, typically an electron, an electron antineutrino, and a muon neutrino. The average lifetime of a muon is about 2.2 microseconds.

Muons are created in high-energy interactions, such as cosmic rays colliding with the Earth's atmosphere. When a cosmic ray, usually a proton, strikes an atmospheric atom, it can produce pions. These pions quickly decay into muons. Muons also play a role in certain types of radioactive decay. Because they are much heavier than electrons, they have different properties, such as a shorter range in matter. Despite their short lifetime, muons can travel significant distances due to time dilation as predicted by Einstein's theory of special relativity. This phenomenon allows some muons produced in the upper atmosphere to reach the Earth's surface. Experiments utilizing muons are important in particle physics research and in applications like muon radiography.