by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Jan 28, 2026
Until 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 mix of properties permits muons to penetrate dense supplies and be utilized in imaging methods just like X rays, however on the size of huge and heavy constructions akin to geological formations, bridges and dams.
The comparatively massive mass of the muon additionally makes it a delicate probe for elementary physics, and the particles underpin a variety of experiments in excessive power 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 method might at the very least double the efficient lifetime of the particles. They argue that extending muon lifetimes on this method may gain advantage purposes throughout geology, supplies science and particle physics, the place muon primarily based strategies are already in use or underneath energetic improvement.
The work additionally has implications for the design of future massive scale analysis amenities, together with proposals for subsequent era accelerators that may use muons as a substitute of electrons as the first particle species. Muons have been advised as engaging candidates for such machines as a result of their larger mass can scale back sure beam associated limitations and enhance sensitivity for exploring new physics, offered their brief lifetimes may be mitigated.
The brand new idea is offered in Bodily Overview 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 elementary 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 review elementary physics,” mentioned Dr King. “Though it was lengthy regarded as successfully not possible to switch the pure instability of muons, we determined to revisit the query within the gentle of developments in experiment and idea. Finally, we have been capable of finding a brand new path to influencing the muon’s lifetime that circumvented the established difficulties.”
Muons are generated each in artificial environments and in nature. In laboratory settings they seem in particle collisions in accelerator amenities, whereas within the ambiance they’re created when excessive power 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 venture, supported by funding from the Leverhulme Belief, got down to decide whether or not a powerful laser area might alter their decay properties. The researchers developed a idea that exploits a quantum mechanical precept referred to 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 result of curiosity is muon decay, and the varied decay routes can intervene in a method that adjustments the general chance for the method to happen. The idea 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 area.
Dr King famous that the proposed impact lies inside attain of present experimental capabilities moderately than requiring unattainable laser strengths or unique amenities. “It is a course of that may be investigated with know-how we’ve got at our disposal right now. We’re working with others within the area to beat any remaining hurdles earlier than experiments may be carried out, akin to excluding background processes and guaranteeing 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 easy estimates counsel that the required area strengths would far exceed these accessible in laboratories. By exploiting interference and punctiliously chosen configurations, they argue, it needs to be attainable to realize vital modifications to decay charges with out exceeding real looking technological limits.
If confirmed experimentally, the strategy might open a brand new entrance within the management of unstable particles, including a tunable parameter to muon primarily based imaging and measurement methods throughout science and engineering. It might additionally feed into the conceptual design of future muon collider amenities 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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