Decay channel (source code)

= Decay channel

A <decay channel> specifies a possible final state of a <particle decay>, such as an <electron>, a <neutrino> and an antineutrino in a specified muon decay. Different channels can have different interaction amplitudes, available <phase space> and experimental visibility.

For disjoint final-state classes, the partial <decay widths> add: $\Gamma_{\rm total}=\sum_i\Gamma_i$. The <branching fraction> is $\Gamma_i/\Gamma_{\rm total}$, so increasing one partial width changes the fractions assigned to the others even if their own amplitudes are unchanged. Intermediate resonances leading to the same final state can interfere; they cannot always be treated as mutually exclusive counting bins.