The three cousins that define the behavior of electrons

Space · Published 31 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most people know the electron, but it belongs to a larger family of particles called charged leptons. This video explores these subatomic relatives and clarifies the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics.

Dr. Don Lincoln from Fermilab examines the three members of the charged lepton class: the electron, the muon, and the tau lepton. While the electron is the most familiar to us, its cousins share distinct properties that are essential for understanding subatomic physics.

The presentation serves as a deep dive into quantum mechanics, addressing recurring questions about how these particles behave at their smallest scales. It provides context on why these specific leptons are significant in the study of matter.

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