40
R. N. Mohapatra
Fig. 5.2 Beta decay does not respect mirror symmetry. Source: Wikipedia.org
In the table below are listed some examples of dominant weak decay
processes of some elementary particles. Note in particular that the weak decays
of the pi and the K-meson produce the neutrino as one of the decay products.
These neutrinos have played a crucial role in our current understanding of the
neutrino’s properties, as will be discussed in Chap. 12.
Particle
Decay to
Neutron n
→ p + e − + ¯
ν e
K-meson K +
→ μ + + ν μ
→ π 0 + e + + ν e
→ π 0 + μ + + ν μ
π +
μ + + ν μ
→ p + π −
→ n + π 0
Some other manifestations of the weak force are the muon particle observed
in cosmic rays, which also undergoes weak decay to an electron and two
neutrinos. A profound observation is that all these processes have similar
strengths for the weak force, as deduced from the measurement of the life
time of the muon.
R. N. Mohapatra
Fig. 5.2 Beta decay does not respect mirror symmetry. Source: Wikipedia.org
In the table below are listed some examples of dominant weak decay
processes of some elementary particles. Note in particular that the weak decays
of the pi and the K-meson produce the neutrino as one of the decay products.
These neutrinos have played a crucial role in our current understanding of the
neutrino’s properties, as will be discussed in Chap. 12.
Particle
Decay to
Neutron n
→ p + e − + ¯
ν e
K-meson K +
→ μ + + ν μ
→ π 0 + e + + ν e
→ π 0 + μ + + ν μ
π +
μ + + ν μ
→ p + π −
→ n + π 0
Some other manifestations of the weak force are the muon particle observed
in cosmic rays, which also undergoes weak decay to an electron and two
neutrinos. A profound observation is that all these processes have similar
strengths for the weak force, as deduced from the measurement of the life
time of the muon.