Omega particle

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For the Star Trek particle, see Omega particle (Star Trek).

Omega
Classification
Subatomic particle Fermion Hadron Baryon Hyperon Omega
Properties
Mass: 2.9814 × 10−27 kg 1.672 43 GeV/c2 Electric Charge: −1.602 176 53(14) × 10−19 C Spin: 3/2 Quark Composition: 3 Strange

In particle physics, the omega minus (Ω⁻) is a type of baryon (more specifically, a hyperon). Its discovery was a great triumph in the study of quark processes, since it was found only after its existence, mass, and decay products had already been predicted. Besides the ordinary omega particle there is also a charmed omega particle, in which a strange quark is replaced by a charm quark. The omega particle decays only via the weak interaction and has therefore a relatively long lifetime.^[1]

Omega

Particle	Symbol	Makeup	Rest mass MeV/c2	S	C	B	Mean lifetime s	Decays to
Omega	Ω-	sss	1672	-3	0	0	0.82×10-10	Λ0 + K- or Ξ0 + π-
charmed Omega	Ω0c	ssc	2698	-2	+1	0	7×10-14

[edit] References

1. ^ http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particles/omega.html#c1