# Flavor of leptons

• A

## Summary:

Are they mass eigenstates by definition?
Do three mass eigenstates of the charged lepton define the flavor eigenstates e, μ, τ ? Ī̲ know that—for neutrinos—mass eigenstates do not correspond to νe, νμ, ντ .

Can we define reasonable flavor states for leptons in any way other than the abovementioned two bases?

## Answers and Replies

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Sure, you could define them as orthogonal; linear combinations. But why would you want to?

ohwilleke
Orodruin
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Do three mass eigenstates of the charged lepton define the flavor eigenstates e−, μ−, τ− ?
Yes.

ohwilleke
But why would you want to?
Ī̲’m no expert, but this may be related to decay of W and Z, for example.

Sure, you could define them as orthogonal; linear combinations. But why would you want to?
Yes, I believe it is a choice: you can either have the electron 'flavours' defined as mass eigenstates or the neutrino flavours as mass eigenstates, but not both.

ohwilleke
Orodruin
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