The LHC could unravel all of this

Apr 29, 2009 13:14 GMT  ·  By
The Feynman diagram for beta decay of a neutron into a proton, electron, and electron antineutrino via an intermediate heavy W boson
   The Feynman diagram for beta decay of a neutron into a proton, electron, and electron antineutrino via an intermediate heavy W boson

The Large Hadron Collider is the largest scientific experiment ever built by human hands and, as such, is the structure scientists expect most from. Among the possible outcomes of LHC experiments, the most important ones include the discovery of the Higgs boson (God's particle), the creation of anti-matter, the observation of micro-black holes, and the discovery of the theorized fifth force of nature. When the particle accelerator will return to active duty, in September this year, all this and more should become obvious to researchers working in the Swiss-French border underground complex.

However, there are some classes of research, such as determining the strength of the electroweak coupling between atomic electrons and quarks of the nucleus, which can be conducted with low-grade equipment, in laboratory room-sized equipment. Physicists at the University of Nevada in Reno (UNR), led by Associate Professor in the College of Science's Department of Physics Andrei Derevianko, report in an upcoming issue of the journal Physical Review Letter that they have managed to successfully conclude an experiment related to the violation of mirror symmetry in atoms.

Derevianko and his colleagues have been at the forefront of research on creating more and more accurate atomic clocks for the last few years, so their level of expertise in this type of investigations is outstanding. The way they achieved their most recent result has been by simply combining the works of physics Nobel prize laureate Dr. Carl Wieman with high-precision calculations on cesium atoms, which are the current basis for atomic clocks. The oscillations that naturally occur in these atoms are the units of measurement that give the standard duration of a second.

Their research has also hinted at the fact that a new class of heavy particles may exist, in addition to the Standard Model's Z bosons. These new particles, while similar to their “relatives,” behave differently under different circumstances. Studies “pointed out a discrepancy, and hinted at a possibility for new physics, in particular, extra Z-bosons,” the expert said. “Atomic parity violation places powerful constraints on new physics beyond the Standard Model of elementary particles. With this new-found precision, we are doing a better job of 'listening' to the atoms.”

“New physics beyond the Standard Model is the next frontier, and it's the theoretical motivation for much of this research,” he added. The possibility of a fifth force of nature existing – other than gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak forces at the atomic level – is very exciting, the physicist also shared, PhysOrg reports.