Calculating the lifetime of a particle

[Takuza]

1. Homework Statement

A pi meson (pion) and a proton can briefly join together to form a Δ particle. A measurement of the energy of the ∏p system shows a peak at 1236 MeV, corresponding to the rest energy of the Δ particle, with an experimental spread of 120 MeV. What is the lifetime of the Δ?
A graph is given of the reaction probability as a function of energy, peaking at energy 1236 MeV. There are arrows on both sides of the peak labeled 120 MeV.


2. Homework Equations

ΔE*Δt ~ h-bar


3. The Attempt at a Solution
I am mainly unsure as to what an experimental spread is. My guess is that the experimental spread is equal to ΔE, and so the solution is simply (h-bar)/(120MeV), but that seems too simple.

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi Takuza!

A pi meson (pion) and a proton can briefly join together to form a Δ particle. A measurement of the energy of the ∏p system shows a peak at 1236 MeV, corresponding to the rest energy of the Δ particle, with an experimental spread of 120 MeV. What is the lifetime of the Δ?
…
I am mainly unsure as to what an experimental spread is. My guess is that the experimental spread is equal to ΔE, and so the solution is simply (h-bar)/(120MeV), but that seems too simple.

Yup … "experimental spread" and "uncertainty" seem to mean the same