Lepton: Difference between revisions
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A '''lepton''' is a [[spin]] 1/2 elementary particle that is not subject to the strong nuclear force | A '''lepton''' is a [[spin]] 1/2 elementary particle that is not subject to the strong nuclear force. There are six leptons (apart from their antiparticles): 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/> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist|refs= | {{Reflist|refs= | ||
<ref name=Cottingham> | |||
{{cite book |title=An introduction to the Standard Model of particle physics |author=WN Cottingham, DA Greenwood |isbn=978-0-521-85249-4 |year=2007 |edition=2nd ed |publisher=Cambridge University Press |chapter=Table 1.2: Leptons |pages=p. 3 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Dm36BYq9iu0C&pg=PA3}} | |||
</ref> | |||
<ref name=Lincoln> | <ref name=Lincoln> | ||
{{cite book |title=Understanding the universe: from quarks to the cosmos |author=Don Lincoln |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1gFioQea39UC&pg=PA143 |pages=p. 143 |isbn=9812387056 |year=2004 |publisher=World Scientific}} | {{cite book |title=Understanding the universe: from quarks to the cosmos |author=Don Lincoln |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=1gFioQea39UC&pg=PA143 |pages=p. 143 |isbn=9812387056 |year=2004 |publisher=World Scientific}} | ||
Revision as of 08:43, 22 August 2011
A lepton is a spin 1/2 elementary particle that is not subject to the strong nuclear force. There are six leptons (apart from their antiparticles): 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).[1][2]
Having spin 1/2, all leptons are fermions.[3]
References
- ↑ 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.