A working hypothesis on the muon-decay time shortening and time

Abstract

The Earth’s atmosphere is showered with cosmic rays that originate from interstellar space. When cosmic rays collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, they decay into Muons. These Muons further decay, with several different decay modes, over accurately measured time (out to six to eight significant figures). Muons can be represented as clocks, which can run fast or slow. Here I have speculated that the duration of Muon decay measured in experiments in 1946—2017 years, which should be a constant, appears to shorten gradually, perhaps irregularly (including pauses), from very roughly 2.330 s (1946) to very roughly 2.202 s (1962— 1963). There are questions concerning the most recent measurements, and more accurate experimental data is required to confirm or view with doubt a trend for the gradual shortening of Muon decay time. Namely, from 2007.0 to 2009.5 the more precise Muon decay time measurements exhibit a decrease in apparent Muon decay time of very approximately 13 ps per year. Although this numerical trend is not statistically significant, certainly the apparent decrease in Muon decay time cannot be absolutely ruled out according to a review of the presented data. Speculation about the cause of the apparent shortening of Muon-decay time suggests that it is tied to the possible variation of the speed of time (clocks running fast or slow) in our Universe. The working hypothesis, to inspire the research of others, is that the intrinsic Muon decay time is not decreasing slightly as measured on its intrinsic clock, but its apparent decay time is decreasing slightly as measured on clocks associated with our Earth and/or our Universe; clocks that are running very slightly fast and slowing down. Several published studies of time variability in our Universe are analyzed. A Proposition that some complex processes or sub systems such as Muon decay are “marching” to their own intrinsic, fixed, “time” or timeframe, which is independent of the flow of “time” in our Universe, is proposed and several published research papers are cited to support the Proposition. Ramifications of the possible change in the speed of time to various scientific fields are mentioned.