” As particle physicists, were attempting to establish our best understanding of nature,” said Zhen Liu, co-author of the paper and an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy. “Scientists have actually been significantly effective in the previous century in finding primary particles through developed theoretical structures. If we do discover the axion, it will be a great advance in our fundamental understanding of the structure of nature.”
” With this research study, were broadening methods we can browse for the axion particle,” stated Raymond Co, co-author of the paper and a postdoctoral scientist in the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy and William Fine Theoretical Physics Institute. “People have actually never used axion decay into muons as a method to browse for the axion particle in neutrino or collider experiments before.
The researchers paper is published and included as the Editors suggestion in Physical Review Letters, a peer-reviewed clinical journal published by the American Physical Society.
The University of Minnesota researchers new method of browsing for the hypothetical axion includes measuring the “decay” of the particle into two muons– recognized particles that are essentially the heavier variation of the electron– as highlighted in the above image. Credit: Raymond Co, University of Minnesota
” As particle physicists, were attempting to establish our finest understanding of nature,” stated Zhen Liu, co-author of the paper and an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy. “Scientists have actually been greatly successful in the past century in finding elementary particles through developed theoretical structures. Its exceptionally puzzling why neutrons do not pair to electric fields due to the fact that in our recognized theory, we would anticipate them to. If we do find the axion, it will be a fantastic advance in our essential understanding of the structure of nature.”
One of the primary methods for studying subatomic particles, and possibly finding new ones, is collider experiments. Basically, scientists require beams of particles to collide– and when they hit each other, the energy they produce creates other particles that travel through a detector, allowing scientists to analyze their residential or commercial properties..
Liu and his groups proposed technique involves measuring the “decay” item– or what happens when an unsteady heavy particle changes into numerous lighter particles– of the hypothetical axion into two muons, understood particles that are basically the much heavier variation of the electron. By working backwards from the muon tracks in the detector to reconstruct such decays, the scientists believe they have an opportunity to locate the axion and prove its existence.
” With this research study, were expanding ways we can browse for the axion particle,” stated Raymond Co, co-author of the paper and a postdoctoral researcher in the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy and William Fine Theoretical Physics Institute. “People have actually never utilized axion decay into muons as a method to search for the axion particle in neutrino or collider experiments before. This research opens brand-new possibilities to lead the way for future undertakings in our field.”.
Liu and Co, in addition to University of Minnesota physics and astronomy postdoctoral scientist Kun-Feng Lyu and University of California, Berkeley postdoctoral researcher Soubhik Kumar, lag the theoretical part of the research. Theyre a part of the ArgoNeuT cooperation, which unites theorists and experimentalists from across the nation to study particles through experiments at Fermilab..
In this paper, the University of Minnesota-led theoretical group worked with the speculative researchers to perform a look for axions utilizing their new technique and existing data from the ArgoNeuT experiment. The scientists plan to use the speculative results to further improve their theoretical calculations of the axion production rate in the future.
Referral: “First Constraints on Heavy QCD Axions with a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber Using the ArgoNeuT Experiment” by R. Acciarri, C. Adams, B. Baller, V. Basque, F. Cavanna, R. T. Co, R. S. Fitzpatrick, B. Fleming, P. Green, R. Harnik, K. J. Kelly, S. Kumar, K. Lang, I. Lepetic, Z. Liu, X. Luo, K. F. Lyu, O. Palamara, G. Scanavini, M. Soderberg, J. Spitz, A. M. Szelc, W. Wu and T. Yang (The ArgoNeuT Collaboration), 31 May 2023, Physical Review Letters.DOI: 10.1103/ PhysRevLett.130.221802.
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Science; the National Science Foundation; the United Kingdom Research and Innovations Science and Technology Facilities Council; and the UKs Royal Society..
In addition to Liu, Co, Lyu, and Kumar, the team for this paper consisted of scientists Roberto Acciarri, Bruce Baller, Vincent Basque, Flavio Cavanna, Roni Harnik, Ornella Palamara, Wanwei Wu, and Tingjun Yang (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory); Corey Adams (Argonne National Laboratory); Rory Fitzpatrick and Joshua Spitz (University of Michigan); Bonnie Fleming and Giacomo Scanavini (Yale University); Patrick Green (University of Manchester, University of Oxford); Kevin Kelly (European Organization for Nuclear Research or CERN); Karol Lang (University of Texas at Austin); Ivan Lepetic (Rutgers University); Xiao Luo (University of California, Santa Barbara); Mitchell Soderberg (Syracuse University); and Andrzej Szelc (University of Edinburgh).
Theoretical physicists from the University of Minnesota have proposed a novel method to spot axions, theoretical particles that could resolve the “Strong CP Problem” in physics. The strategy includes tracing the decay of axions into two muons, opening brand-new possibilities in particle collider experiments.
Theoretical physicists assist broaden the search for brand-new particle– axions– that might help respond to one of the most perplexing questions in physics.
Among the most prominent secrets in physics today is what researchers refer to as the “Strong CP Problem.” Originating from the perplexing phenomenon that neutrons do not connect with electric fields regardless of being comprised of quarks– smaller, essential particles that bring electrical charges– the Strong CP Problem puts into concern the Standard Model of physics, or the set of theories researchers have been using to discuss the laws of nature for several years.
A team led by University of Minnesota Twin Cities theoretical physicists has discovered a brand-new way to browse for axions, theoretical particles that might assist resolve this mystery. Working in partnership with experimental researchers at the Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory, the physicists new technique opens previously uncharted opportunities to spot axions in particle collider experiments.
