Do Third Generation Quarks Decay at Slower Rates?

In summary, time dilation slows all processes without exception, but high-energetic b mesons live longer than low-energetic ones.
  • #1
Phantom13
8
0
I know that things moving closer to the speed of light will decay at slower rates, but does this include the decay of third generation quarks into second and then first generation quarks? If a third generation quark is created and in an area of the universe where things are moving extremely fast, would it decay into a second generation quark in a longer period of time than it normally would?
 
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  • #2
Yes. Time dilation slows all processes without exception. But bear in mind that an observer moving with the quarks would observe the normal decay rate.
 
  • #3
High-energetic B mesons live longer than low-energetic ones, this can be observed all the time in particle colliders. To avoid dealing with this, the decay time in the rest frame of the particle is calculated, while the decay time in the detector frame is rarely used.
 
  • #4
Thankyou. So I have another question for anyone who wants to answer. When we create collisions in particle accelerators we very rarely see Top, bottom, strange, and charm quarks because they decay into up and down quarks then connect to each other with gluons. Is it possible that in another area of the universe where properties are different that third generation matter such as top and bottom quarks could remain stable long enough to bind together in a similar way that Up and Down quarks bind to make the mesons and baryons we know of? In which case it would be possible to have mesons, baryons, or atoms consisting just of quarks and leptons of the third or second family? Is it possible that this matter is created rapidly all the time but we just don't see it because it decays at an extreme rate?
 
  • #5
With the top-quark (and a quark-gluon-plasma and probably other exotic states) as exceptions, all quarks form hadrons.
As example, "B mesons" is a name for mesons consisting of a bottom-quark and a lighter quark, bound together with gluons.

Atoms with hyperons (a strange-quark instead of an up or down-quark) were observed, as far as I know, but in general, the produced quarks are too rare or high-energetic for that.

Is it possible that in another area of the universe where properties are different
Up to now, no experiment found any spatial or temporal variation of physics. The common view is that physics is probably the same everywhere.

Stable second or third generation quarks would require that their masses are lower than the first generation quarks.
 
  • #6
Alright thankyou for answering my questions. I have one last question though. Is there a way I can change the title of this thread?
 

Related to Do Third Generation Quarks Decay at Slower Rates?

1. What is the significance of third generation quarks?

Third generation quarks refer to the third family of elementary particles in the Standard Model of particle physics. They include the top, bottom, and tau quarks, which are the heaviest and most unstable of all quarks. Understanding their behavior and properties is crucial in furthering our understanding of the fundamental building blocks of the universe.

2. How do third generation quarks decay?

Third generation quarks can decay through various processes, such as weak decays, electromagnetic decays, and strong decays. The exact decay mechanism depends on the specific quark and the particles it interacts with. For example, top quarks can decay into a bottom quark and a W boson, while tau quarks can decay into lighter quarks and a tau neutrino.

3. Do third generation quarks decay at different rates?

Yes, third generation quarks decay at different rates. The top quark has the shortest lifetime, decaying in about 5 x 10^-25 seconds, while the bottom quark and tau quark have longer lifetimes of about 1.5 x 10^-12 seconds and 3 x 10^-13 seconds, respectively. This is due to the different masses and interactions of these quarks.

4. What factors can affect the decay rate of third generation quarks?

The decay rate of third generation quarks can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as the mass of the quark, the energy of the decay products, and the particles present in the decay environment. Additionally, external influences such as magnetic fields or high energy collisions can also affect the decay rate.

5. Why is it important to study the decay rates of third generation quarks?

Studying the decay rates of third generation quarks can provide insight into the fundamental forces and interactions that govern the behavior of particles in the universe. It can also help us understand the differences in behavior between different generations of quarks and potentially lead to new discoveries in particle physics. Additionally, accurate knowledge of decay rates is necessary for predicting and interpreting experimental results in particle colliders and other high-energy experiments.

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