First beam for an important new physics experiment
by Jon Butterworth from on (#2RT8K)
An anomaly in the tiny magnetic field of a fundamental particle could be the loose thread that lets us unravel a new layer of physics. A new experiment has started to take a closer look
A new experiment at the Fermi National Laboratory near Chicago, USA, has just taken an important step. The first beam of muons has entered the storage magnet of the Muon g-2 experiment.
Muons are fundamental particles very like electrons, but with a mass more than 200 times greater. Because they have electric charge and spin, muons are little magnets. The aim of the experiment is to make the most precise measurement so far of the tiny magnetic field that muons create. I'll come on to the "why" in a minute, but first a bit about "how".