Lepton: Difference between revisions
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A '''lepton''' is a [[spin]] 1/2 elementary particle that is not subject to the strong force (also called the [[Quantum chromodynamics|chromodynamic force]] or ''color force''). In other words, | A '''lepton''' is a [[spin]] 1/2 elementary particle that is not subject to the strong force (also called the [[Quantum chromodynamics|chromodynamic force]] or ''color force''). In other words, leptons are ''colorless''. There are six leptons (apart from their antiparticles), sometimes referred to as ''flavors'' of lepton:<ref name=Srednicki/> the [[electron]], [[muon]], [[tau]] and their associated [[neutrino]]s. Leptons can possess [[electric charge]] as in the case of the electron (e<sup>−</sup>), muon (μ<sup>−</sup>) and tau (τ<sup>−</sup>) (all negatively charged), and the corresponding antileptons (all positively charged), or can be electric charge neutral like the electron neutrino (ν<sub>e</sub>), muon neutrino (ν<sub>μ</sub>), or tau neutrino (ν<sub>τ</sub>).<ref name=Cottingham/><ref name=Quinn/> | ||
Having spin 1/2, all leptons are [[fermion]]s.<ref name=Lincoln/> | Having spin 1/2, all leptons are [[fermion]]s.<ref name=Lincoln/> | ||
Revision as of 09:45, 22 August 2011
A lepton is a spin 1/2 elementary particle that is not subject to the strong force (also called the chromodynamic force or color force). In other words, leptons are colorless. There are six leptons (apart from their antiparticles), sometimes referred to as flavors of lepton:[1] the electron, muon, tau and their associated neutrinos. Leptons can possess electric charge as in the case of the electron (e−), muon (μ−) and tau (τ−) (all negatively charged), and the corresponding antileptons (all positively charged), or can be electric charge neutral like the electron neutrino (νe), muon neutrino (νμ), or tau neutrino (ντ).[2][3]
Having spin 1/2, all leptons are fermions.[4]
References
- ↑ Mark Allen Srednicki (2007). “Table 88.1: The six flavors of lepton.”, Quantum Field Theory. Cambridge University Press, p. 549. ISBN 0521864496.
- ↑ WN Cottingham, DA Greenwood (2007). “Table 1.2: Leptons”, An introduction to the Standard Model of particle physics, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, p. 3. ISBN 978-0-521-85249-4.
- ↑ Helen R. Quinn, Yossi Nir (2010). The Mystery of the Missing Antimatter. Princeton University Press, p. 98. ISBN 1400835712.
- ↑ Don Lincoln (2004). Understanding the universe: from quarks to the cosmos. World Scientific, p. 143. ISBN 9812387056.