by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Jan 28, 2026
Except they work in particle physics or a associated self-discipline, most individuals are unlikely to have encountered muons, elementary particles that resemble electrons however are round 200 occasions heavier and work together solely weakly with matter. This mixture of properties permits muons to penetrate dense supplies and be utilized in imaging methods just like X rays, however on the dimensions of enormous and heavy constructions akin to geological formations, bridges and dams.
The comparatively giant mass of the muon additionally makes it a delicate probe for basic physics, and the particles underpin a spread of experiments in excessive vitality and astroparticle physics. One lengthy standing limitation, nevertheless, is that muons are unstable and possess a half lifetime of solely about one microsecond, proscribing the time window over which they are often exploited in sensible measurements and precision exams.
Researchers on the College of Plymouth have now outlined a theoretical technique for slowing muon decay utilizing intense laser pulses, with calculations indicating that the approach may no less than double the efficient lifetime of the particles. They argue that extending muon lifetimes on this means may benefit purposes throughout geology, supplies science and particle physics, the place muon based mostly strategies are already in use or beneath energetic improvement.
The work additionally has implications for the design of future giant scale analysis services, together with proposals for subsequent technology accelerators that may use muons as an alternative of electrons as the first particle species. Muons have been recommended as engaging candidates for such machines as a result of their larger mass can cut back sure beam associated limitations and enhance sensitivity for exploring new physics, offered their brief lifetimes might be mitigated.
The brand new idea is introduced in Bodily Assessment Letters by Affiliate Professor of Theoretical Physics Ben King and Postdoctoral Analysis Fellow Di Liu from the College of Plymouth’s Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Arithmetic. Describing the motivation behind the examine, Dr King mentioned that he has lengthy regarded excessive energy lasers as having robust potential for investigations of basic physics and that current advances justified revisiting lengthy held assumptions about muon instability.
“I’ve at all times believed excessive energy lasers have nice potential to check basic physics,” mentioned Dr King. “Though it was lengthy considered successfully inconceivable to switch the pure instability of muons, we determined to revisit the query within the gentle of developments in experiment and idea. Finally, we had been capable of finding a brand new path to influencing the muon’s lifetime that circumvented the established difficulties.”
Muons are generated each in synthetic environments and in nature. In laboratory settings they seem in particle collisions in accelerator services, whereas within the ambiance they’re created when excessive vitality cosmic rays from area strike molecules within the higher air. Experiments have additionally lately proven that firing an intense laser at a skinny goal can generate a number of unique particle species, together with muons, opening one other potential route for managed manufacturing.
As a result of muons start to decay nearly as quickly as they’re created, the Plymouth challenge, supported by funding from the Leverhulme Belief, got down to decide whether or not a powerful laser discipline may alter their decay properties. The researchers developed a idea that exploits a quantum mechanical precept generally known as quantum interference, which states that totally different pathways resulting in the identical end result can behave like waves and both reinforce or cancel each other when mixed.
On this case, the end result of curiosity is muon decay, and the varied decay routes can intrude in a means that adjustments the general likelihood for the method to happen. The speculation predicts that this interference sample ought to present itself within the spatial distribution of the decay merchandise detected in an experiment, offering a measurable signature of the modified decay dynamics within the presence of the laser discipline.
Dr King famous that the proposed impact lies inside attain of current experimental capabilities slightly than requiring unattainable laser strengths or unique services. “It is a course of that may be investigated with expertise we now have at our disposal at present. We’re working with others within the discipline to beat any remaining hurdles earlier than experiments might be carried out, akin to excluding background processes and making certain a superb overlap of the muons with the laser,” he mentioned.
The researchers stress that their technique represents a common technique for influencing the decay of charged particles utilizing electromagnetic fields, even when simple estimates recommend that the required discipline strengths would far exceed these accessible in laboratories. By exploiting interference and punctiliously chosen configurations, they argue, it ought to be doable to attain important modifications to decay charges with out exceeding lifelike technological limits.
If confirmed experimentally, the strategy may open a brand new entrance within the management of unstable particles, including a tunable parameter to muon based mostly imaging and measurement methods throughout science and engineering. It may additionally feed into the conceptual design of future muon collider services and different superior infrastructure, the place extending particle lifetimes and understanding their decay in complicated electromagnetic environments are central challenges for each idea and experiment.
Analysis Report:Vacuum Muon Decay and Interplay with Laser Pulses
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