The newly published results of an international experiment show the possibility of new physics which would govern the laws of nature.
Context
The newly published results of an international experiment show the possibility of new physics which would govern the laws of nature.
Key-highlights of the Study
- A subatomic particle called the muon were studied.
- The results show that the particles do not match the predictions of the Standard Model.
- Experiment:The experiment which is called Muon g–2 (g minus two) was conducted at the US Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab).
- The quantity which was measured is called the g–factor which is a measure that derives from the magnetic properties of the muon.
- Muons act as a tiny internal magnet.
- In a strong magnetic field, the direction of this magnet “wobbles” like the axis of a spinning top.
- The rate at which the muon wobbles is described by the g-factor, the quantity that was measured.
- This value is known to be close to 2, so scientists measure the deviation from 2. Hence the name g–2.
- The g-factor can be calculated precisely using the Standard Model.
How does it work?
- In the g–2 experiment, scientists measure it with high-precision instruments.
- They generate muons and got them to circulate in a large magnet.
- The muons interact with a “quantum foam” of subatomic particles “popping in and out of existence”.
- These interactions affect the value of the g-factor, causing the muons to wobble slightly faster or slightly slower.
- If the quantum foam contains additional forces or particles that are not accounted for by the Standard Model, that would tweak the g-factor further and a different result is observed from the standard results.
- By calculating the deviation which is called anomalous magnetic moment the results are observed.
Muon
- The muon is one of the leptons.
- It is similar to electron and 200 times larger.
- It is much more unstable than electron and survives for a fraction of a second.
- Muons act as a tiny internal magnet.
- In a strong magnetic field, the direction of this magnet “wobbles” like the axis of a spinning top.
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What were the findings?
- The results, while diverging from the Standard Model prediction.
- The results hint at the existence of unknown interactions between the muon and the magnetic field.
- This interactioncould involve new particles or forces.
About Standard Model
- The Standard Model is a theory to predict the behaviour of the building blocks of the universe.
- It forms the rules for six types of quarks, six leptons, the Higgs boson, three fundamental forces, and how the subatomic particles behave under the influence of electromagnetic forces.
- The g-factor can be calculated precisely using the Standard Model.
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