The Strong CP Problem, a high-profile mystery in physics, has been puzzling scientists for years. The puzzle is due to the odd phenomenon that quarks, which constitute neutrons, do not interact with electric fields despite possessing electrical charges. The Standard Model of Physics, currently used to explain the laws of nature, is in question due to this problem.
A team of theoretical physicists at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities has proposed a new way to search for an elusive hypothetical particle named the axion, which could help unravel the Strong CP Problem. In collaboration with experimental researchers at the Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory, the innovative strategy opens up previously unexplored opportunities to detect axions in particle collider experiments. The research paper has featured as an Editor’s suggestion in Physical Review Letters.
Zhen Liu, co-author of the paper and assistant professor in the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy, said, “If we do discover the axion, it will be a great advance in our fundamental understanding of the structure of nature.” The researchers’ proposed method involves locating axions by measuring the “decay” of the particle into two muons – particles heavier than electrons. By reconstructing axion decays from muon tracks, the physicists believe they can locate the axion and prove its existence.
The researchers’ theoretical ideas and proposed solution have been implemented in collaboration with experimental researchers. Working with existing data from the ArgoNeuT experiment, the team plans to refine their theoretical calculations of the axion production rate further. Raymond Co, co-author of the paper, stated, “This research opens up new possibilities and paves the way for future endeavors in our field.”
By expanding the methods of searching for the axion particle, the team has found a new direction in the search for new particles. “As particle physicists, we’re trying to develop our best understanding of nature,” Liu said. This research is poised to make a significant contribution to the future of particle physics studies.
More information:
R. Acciarri et al, First Constraints on Heavy QCD Axions with a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber Using the ArgoNeuT Experiment, Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.221802
Citation:
Searching for new particle: Discovering axions could help answer one of the most puzzling questions in physics (2023, June 9)
retrieved 9 June 2023
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