Difference between revisions of "Muon"
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DavidB4-bot (talk | contribs) (→Uses in nuclear fusion: clean up & uniformity) |
DavidB4-bot (talk | contribs) (→Uses in nuclear fusion: Spelling/Grammar Check, typos fixed: a atom → an atom) |
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==Uses in nuclear fusion== | ==Uses in nuclear fusion== | ||
| − | Hypothetically, a steady stream of muons could be used to jumpstart nuclear fusion, by replacing the electrons. Because Muons are 217 times heavier than electrons, | + | Hypothetically, a steady stream of muons could be used to jumpstart nuclear fusion, by replacing the electrons. Because Muons are 217 times heavier than electrons, an atom with muons orbiting it would be more attracted to other atoms. However, the difficulty in acquiring muons and preventing them from decaying presents a hurdle to nuclear fusion with muons. |
[[Category:Physics]] | [[Category:Physics]] | ||
Revision as of 13:42, July 28, 2016
A muon is a fundamental constituent of matter. Its properties are similar to those of the more-familiar electron, but it is roughly 206 times more massive. Muons belong to a category of elementary particles known as leptons.
History
Muons were discovered by Carl D. Anderson, n American physicist who also first observed the positron, in 1936.
Uses in nuclear fusion
Hypothetically, a steady stream of muons could be used to jumpstart nuclear fusion, by replacing the electrons. Because Muons are 217 times heavier than electrons, an atom with muons orbiting it would be more attracted to other atoms. However, the difficulty in acquiring muons and preventing them from decaying presents a hurdle to nuclear fusion with muons.