Evidence for Transformation of Mesotrons into Electrons

Abstract

ONE of the outstanding questions regarding the mesotron is that of its ultimate fate. Certain properties of this particle are remarkably like those of the hypothetical particle assumed by Yukawa in his theory of nuclear forces and β-disintegration, and this has led to the view that the two may be identical. Within a rather large experimental error they have the same mass, and both are unstable in the free state, having an average life of the order of 10^-6 seconds. The disappearance of the particle of Yukawa's theory at the end of its life takes place through its transformation into an electron and a neutrino, and it is regarding this that hitherto there has been no evidence of a parallel between it and the mesotron of cosmic rays. In fact, existing experimental evidence has rather gone to show that mesotrons suffer at the end of their life some other fate than befalls the Yukawa particle.