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Life of A Muon

1. A muon is created 3 km above Earth's surface traveling at 0.98c. From its reference frame, it survives 2.2 microseconds before decaying. 2. Using both classical physics calculations and relativistic transformations, an observer on Earth would see the muon survive for 11 microseconds and travel the 3 km to Earth's surface before decaying. 3. From the muon's reference frame, it reaches Earth and decays 0.2 microseconds after penetrating the surface, making the journey take only 2 microseconds.

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susobhan ghosh
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51 views

Life of A Muon

1. A muon is created 3 km above Earth's surface traveling at 0.98c. From its reference frame, it survives 2.2 microseconds before decaying. 2. Using both classical physics calculations and relativistic transformations, an observer on Earth would see the muon survive for 11 microseconds and travel the 3 km to Earth's surface before decaying. 3. From the muon's reference frame, it reaches Earth and decays 0.2 microseconds after penetrating the surface, making the journey take only 2 microseconds.

Uploaded by

susobhan ghosh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Life of a Muon

Assume that a muon is created in the atmosphere 3 km


above Earth’s surface, traveling downward at 0.98c. It
survives 2.2 µs in its own reference frame before
decaying.

Define the S reference frame as the surface of Earth


with the x-direction along the path of the muon. The S’
reference frame is that of the muon.

This means that the muon is moving at +v as seen from


Earth and Earth is moving at -v as seen from the muon.

Physics 3305 - Modern Physics Professor Jodi Cooley


Classical Physics:

1. How far will the muon travel before it decays?


8
d = vt = 0.98(3.00 × 10 m/s)(2.2 × 10 −6
s)

d = 647m The muon would decay before


reaching Earth’s surface.

2. How much longer would it have to live in order to reach


Earth? d 3000m − 647m
t= =
v 0.98(3.00 × 108 )m/s

t = 8.0 × 10−6 s = 8.0µs

Physics 3305 - Modern Physics Professor Jodi Cooley


v ′
t = γ ν ( 2 x + t′ )
Special Relativity: c

1. According to an observer on Earth, how long will the


muon survive before decaying?

We can approach the problem in 2 ways - Lorentz


transformation equations or time dilation formula
(which is derived from Lorentz transformations).
=0
v
∆t = γν ( 2 ∆x′ + ∆t′ )
c
In the muon’s frame, it is standing still. Δx’ = 0.
Note: Proper time is assigned to the S’
∆t = γν ∆t′ reference frame where events occur in
the same location. This agrees with our
formula here. Δt = γν Δt0
Physics 3305 - Modern Physics Professor Jodi Cooley
′
Now just calculate. Start with ∆t = γν ∆t
the Lorentz factor.
1
γν = ! = 5.03
(0.98c)2
1− c2

Then, apply to our case.

′
∆t = γν ∆t = 5.03 × (2.2 × 10 −6
s
µs)

∆t = 11µs

2. Will the muon reach the surface?


8m
d = vt = 0.98(3.00 × 10 ) × (11 × 10−6 s) = 3.2km
s
Yes, the muon will reach the surface.
Physics 3305 - Modern Physics Professor Jodi Cooley
Special Relativity: x = γν (x′ + vt′ )

3. Now, let’s ask ourselves how long it takes to reach


Earth from the muon’s perspective
Use the Lorentz transformation equations to find Δt’.
′ = 0 ′
∆x = γν (∆x + v∆t )
In the muon’s frame, it sees itself standing still. Thus,
Δx’ = 0.
∆x 3000m
∆t′ = = 8
vγν 0.98 × (3.00 × 10 s ) × 5.03
m

∆t′ = 2.0 × 10−6 s = 2.0µs

Thus, from the perspective of the muon, it reaches Earth,


penetrates Earth, and decays 0.2 µs later.
Physics 3305 - Modern Physics Professor Jodi Cooley
3. Suppose that we observe 104 muons at an altitude of
3000 m in some time interval. How many muons would we
observe at sea level from a classical perspective?

Muons decay according to the statistical law of


radioactivity.
( t/⌧ )
N (t) = N0 e

N0 = original number of muons


N(t) = number of muons at time t
τ = mean lifetime of the muon (a proper time interval)

Physics 3305 - Modern Physics Professor Jodi Cooley


The time it takes muon at an altitude of 3000 m which are
traveling 0.98c to reach sea level is
L 3000
t= = 8
⇠ 10µs
v 0.98 ⇥ 3 ⇥ 10

The mean lifetime for muons is 2.2 µs. Thus, it take


approximately 4.5 lifetimes to reach sea level and the
number of particles to reach sea level is

t/⌧ 4 4.5
N = N0 e = 10 e = 111

N = 111

Physics 3305 - Modern Physics Professor Jodi Cooley


4. Suppose that we observe 104 muons at an altitude of
3000 m in some time interval. How many muons would we
observe at sea level taking into account special
relativity?
Due to length contraction, the distance is contracted
to a length of
L0 3000
L= = = 600 m
γν 5.03
Thus, the actual time it takes muon to reach sea level is
L 600 m
t= = 8
⇡ 2 µs
v 0.98 ⇥ 10 m/s

Plugging into our formula for the number at sea level yields
t/⌧
N = N0 e = 104 e 2.0/2.2
⇠ 3 ⇥ 104
Physics 3305 - Modern Physics
N = 3 x 10 4 closer to real measurements
Professor Jodi Cooley

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