3 ms·

I don't understand this question. Why would the muon's mass change the error rate?

• ggm 9y ago
  because the imputed 'radius' of the proton in normal matter is a function of its interactions with electrons in orbit and its own properties. If you replace an electron with a Muon which orbits but is 400x more massive, then some element of distortion has to come into play. Its radii is now a function of its innate properties and an orbiting body 400x more massive than normal. Therefore, I posit (plausibly wrongly btw, I am not a physicist)_ that there is some measurement inaccuracy which stems from this, which is a function of this 400x size difference.
  • antonvs 9y ago
    That might have made sense up until this latest measurement. The latest measurement found a smaller size for the proton in ordinary hydrogen, consistent with the previous smaller measurement for muonic hydrogen.
    • ggm 9y ago
      Thank you. perfect answer.