leptons


leptons

(lep -tonz) A class of pointlike elementary particles that do not participate in strong interactions (see fundamental forces); it includes the electron, muon, the massive tau lepton, the neutrinos, and their associated antiparticles. Leptons show no evidence of any internal structure. See also Big Bang theory.

Leptons

 

a class of elementary particles that do not have strong interaction—that is, they participate only in electromagnetic, weak, and gravitational interactions. The electron, muon, and electron and muon neutrinos and their corresponding antiparticles are classified as leptons. All leptons have a spin of ½ (that is, they are fermions). The name “lepton” (from Greek leptos, “small,” “light”) is associated with the fact that their mass is less than that of any other particle except the photon.