Someone argues: 'The muon is times heavier than the electron and decays as
PHYSICS · Subjective · Fermi University Physics · Particle Physics & Quantum Fields · Particles, interactions and experiment · Particles, interactions and experiment
Particle Physics, Ch The particle zoo and the four interactions
Problem
Someone argues: 'The muon is 206.8 times heavier than the electron and decays as μ−→e−+νˉe+νμ. It must simply be an electron excited to a higher energy level, the way an excited atom emits a photon when it drops to a lower level; the muon should therefore also be able to decay by the simpler route μ−→e−+γ.' Explain what is wrong with this description of the muon, and give one measured fact that shows the muon is a separate, second-generation particle rather than an excited state of the electron.