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Measurements of relativistic time dilatation for positive and negative muons in a circular orbit

Nature volume 268, pages 301–305 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

The lifetimes of both positive and negative relativistic (γ = 29.33) muons have been measured in the CERN Muon Storage Ring with the results τ+ = 64.419 (58) µs, τ− = 64.368 (29) µs The value for positive muons is in accordance with special relativity and the measured lifetime at rest: the Einstein time dilation factor agrees with experiment with a fractional error of 2×10−3 at 95% confidence. Assuming special relativity, the mean proper lifetime for μ− is found to be τ0− = 2.1948(10) µs the most accurate value reported to date. The agreement of this value with previously measured values of τ0+ confirms CPT invariance for the weak interaction in muon decay.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, Lancashire, UK

    J. Bailey

  2. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Beon, Bern, Switzerland

    K. Borer

  3. Department of Physics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    F. Combley

  4. European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva

    H. Drumm

  5. European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva

    F. Krienen

  6. Institut für Physik der Universität Mainz, Mainz, FRG

    F. Lange

  7. European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva

    E. Picasso

  8. Institut für Physik der Universität Mainz, Mainz, FRG

    W. von Ruden

  9. Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, Wiltshire, UK

    F. J. M. Farley

  10. European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva

    J. H. Field

  11. European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva

    W. Flegel

  12. Department of Physics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

    P. M. Hattersley

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  1. J. Bailey
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  2. K. Borer
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  3. F. Combley
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  6. F. Lange
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  7. E. Picasso
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  9. F. J. M. Farley
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  11. W. Flegel
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  12. P. M. Hattersley
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Bailey, J., Borer, K., Combley, F. et al. Measurements of relativistic time dilatation for positive and negative muons in a circular orbit. Nature 268, 301–305 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/268301a0

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