#trying out new series

Electrons (e−)

Mass: 0.51099895 MeV/c^2

Charge: -1 e ( 1.60217662 × 10-19 C)

Spin:  ½

Color:None

Antiparticle:positron

The electron is a first generation fermionand a lepton. Fermions are particles with have half-integer spinthat follow Fermi-Dirac statistics and obey the Pauli exclusion principle. The Pauli exclusion principle states that two identical fermions can’t occupy the same quantum state (i.e. have the same quantum numbers within a quantum system). Leptons are a subcategory within fermions that can exist independently (without binding together) and do not interact through the strong force unlike quarks. Lastly the generations of the fermions loosely refers to the higher masses for particles in higher generations.

The existence of electrons was first discovered by J.J. Thompson in 1897 when he experimented with cathode ray tubes like the one depicted above. By applying electric and magnetic fields across the cathode ray Thompson was able to determine the mass-to-charge ratio of the particles in the cathode ray. With this he found that the particles were much smaller than any atom and by testing different sources, these negatively charged particles exist in every element. 

Electrons are one of the primary charge carriers in atoms alongside protons but are the primary contributors to electric current. Electrons also have an intrinsic property known as spin which contributes to paramagnetismin certain materials.

Above is a video of an electron riding a light wave. The video was taken using a stroboscope which captures. More on it here (article)andhere (video).

Research involving electrons covers almost every corner of modern physics from high energy particle physics to condensed matter physics and even quantum computing. I have linked articles on recent research with a focus on electrons below for further reading.

Geometry of an electron determined for the first time

Machine learning unlocks mysteries of quantum physics 

Sources:(1) & Image 1 -(2) -Image 2-(3)