Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2003/ib/paper-4/18a/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 ib Paper 4 18A Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
In the pion rest frame, conservation of momentum makes the muon and massless neutrino momenta equal and opposite, of magnitude . The neutrino energy is , while the muon satisfies . Energy conservation gives . Squaring after substituting yieldsThe relativistic two-body decay speed is thusChoose moving with velocity along relative to , so the pion has velocity in and speed . With , the four-dimensional Lorentz transformation isThe muon's four-momentum is before the boost. The same matrix givesVelocity and momentum have the same spatial direction. The unsigned deflection angle from the positive axis therefore satisfiesChoosing the opposite boost makes the pion move along positive and reverses , leaving this speed-based angle formula unchanged.
New to topics? Read the docs here!