ConstantID

Tau-electron mass ratio

Atomic & nuclearMeasured

mτ/me = 3477.23(23)

Value
3477.23
Standard uncertainty
0.23
Relative uncertainty
6.6 × 10−5 (66 parts per million)
Status
Measured
Symbol
mτ/me
Source
CODATA 2022 via NIST · NIST entry

Use in a calculation

# tau-electron mass ratio, CODATA 2022 (NIST)
tau_electron_mass_ratio = 3.47723e3  # standard uncertainty 0.23

# SciPy: scipy.constants.physical_constants['tau-electron mass ratio']

What it is

The mass of the tau divided by the mass of the electron. Ratios like this are often measured more precisely than either quantity on its own, which is why CODATA lists them.

How the value changed, 1998–2022

Each point is one CODATA adjustment, plotted as its difference from the 2022 value; the bars show one standard uncertainty (an arrowhead means the bar runs off the chart).

tau-electron mass ratio: CODATA values 1998–2022 relative to the 2022 value, in parts per million, with one-standard-uncertainty bars−150−100−500+50+100+150parts per million1998200220062010201420182022

Relative uncertainty

tau-electron mass ratio: relative standard uncertainty in each CODATA adjustment, logarithmic scale10⁻⁵10⁻⁴10⁻³1998200220062010201420182022
CODATAValue (uncertainty)Relative uncertaintyChange from previous
20223477.23(23)6.6 × 10−5 +0.0 σ of 2018
20183477.23(23)6.6 × 10−5 +0.3 σ of 2014
20143477.15(31)8.9 × 10−5 +0.0 σ of 2010
20103477.15(31)8.9 × 10−5 −0.6 σ of 2006
20063477.48(57)1.6 × 10−4 +0.0 σ of 2002
20023477.48(57)1.6 × 10−4 −0.2 σ of 1998
19983477.60(57)1.6 × 10−4

“Change from previous” is the shift in the value divided by the standard uncertainty of the previous adjustment. Earlier values are converted into the current unit where NIST changed it (for example J s to J Hz⁻¹).

Related constants

Atomic & nuclear λ¯C,τ Reduced tau Compton wavelength 1.110 538(75) × 10−16 m Atomic & nuclear λC,τ Tau Compton wavelength 6.977 71(47) × 10−16 m Atomic & nuclear mτc2 Tau energy equivalent 1776.86(12) MeV Atomic & nuclear mτ Tau mass 3.167 54(21) × 10−27 kg Atomic & nuclear mτc2 Tau mass energy equivalent 2.846 84(19) × 10−10 J Atomic & nuclear mτ Tau mass in u 1.907 54(13) u Atomic & nuclear M(τ) Tau molar mass 1.907 54(13) × 10−3 kg mol−1 Atomic & nuclear mτ/mμ Tau-muon mass ratio 16.8170(11)