Muon Tutorial

Divide into 2-3 groups. Each group should try to answer the Foundation Question and one of the Group Questions in this activity. 

Foundation Question for both groups:  What are muons?

Group questions:

1. What are some of the characteristics of muons and how do they fit into the standard model?
2. Describe current research studying or employing muons.
3. How are muons produced in cosmic rays and how are they detected?

Each group makes a simple poster and a report when finished.

Resources:

• Wikipedia article on muons
• Wikipedia article on muon colliders
• Muon Accelerator Program
• MICE: the Muon Ionization Cooling Experiment
• Muon g-2 Experiment
• Cosmic Ray Muons and the Standard Model of Fundamental Particles
• Cosmic Muons
• Cosmic Ray Muons
• QuarkNet Cosmic Ray e-Lab (if new: log in as guest, go to Library > Resources)