Convert Barn to Microbarn
Convert barns to microbarns instantly. 1 barn = 1000000 microbarn — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Microbarn to Barn converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Barn
A barn is a scientific unit of area equal to exactly 10⁻²⁸ m² (100 fm²). It is used in nuclear and particle physics to express interaction cross-sections.
Named in 1942 at Purdue University by physicists working on the Manhattan Project. The name comes from the phrase 'big as a barn' — uranium nuclei have cross-sections this large, which physicists initially considered surprisingly large for nuclear targets.
Barns and their submultiples (millibarn, microbarn, nanobarn, picobarn, femtobarn) are the standard units for cross-section measurements in nuclear physics, high-energy physics, and accelerator experiments. The Higgs boson production cross-section at the LHC is in the picobarn range.
Named in 1942 during the Manhattan Project; adopted internationally in particle physics.
Microbarn
A microbarn is a scientific unit of area equal to exactly 10⁻³⁴ m² (10⁻⁶ barn).
Derived from the barn using the standard SI micro- prefix. Identical in value to the humor unit 'outhouse'.
Microbarns appear in particle physics for moderately rare process cross-sections. They are widely used in heavy-ion physics and electroweak cross-section measurements.
Standard derivative of the barn unit.
Barn to Microbarn conversion formula
The relationship between barns and microbarns:
To convert barns to microbarns, multiply the value in barns by 1000000. To reverse, multiply microbarns by 1e-6.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in microbarns updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Microbarn to Barn converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert barns to microbarns
- Write down the value in barns (b).
- Multiply that value by the factor 1000000.
- The product is the equivalent value in microbarns (µb).
- To reverse, multiply the microbarn value by 1e-6.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 b to µb:
1 × 1000000 = 1000000 µb
Example 2 — Convert 100 b to µb:
100 × 1000000 = 1e+8 µb
Real-world example — Molecular dimensions
The diameter of small molecular structures (around 2 barns) is often converted into related sub-micron units when comparing measurements across different microscopy techniques or imaging modalities.
2 b × 1000000 = 2000000 µb
Real-world example — Wavelengths across the spectrum
Optical and atomic-scale phenomena are routinely cross-converted between sub-micron units. A photon of wavelength 800 barns can be re-expressed in microbarns for direct comparison with another instrument's calibration data sheet.
800 b × 1000000 = 8e+8 µb
Barn to Microbarn conversion table
Standard reference values for converting barns to microbarns:
| Barn [b] | Microbarn [µb] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 10000 |
| 0.1 | 100000 |
| 1 | 1000000 |
| 2 | 2000000 |
| 3 | 3000000 |
| 4 | 4000000 |
| 5 | 5000000 |
| 10 | 1e+7 |
| 20 | 2e+7 |
| 30 | 3e+7 |
| 40 | 4e+7 |
| 50 | 5e+7 |
| 100 | 1e+8 |
| 500 | 5e+8 |
| 1000 | 1e+9 |
Frequently asked questions
How many microbarns is 1 barn?
How do I convert barns to microbarns?
How do I convert microbarns back to barns?
How many microbarns is 100 barns?
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Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 b = 1000000 µb) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.