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Beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics

Posted by michael on from the twice-as-good-as-regular-symmetry dept.

tanmay writes "As time moves on, the case for supersymmetry keeps getting stronger. Physicsweb is reporting about an experiment that measures the relation between the spin of the muon and its magnetic moment, called the g-factor. The latest experiment is described as the most significant deviation to date between experiment and theory in particle physics, thus offering the clearest hint so far of new physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. We will know for sure if supersymmetry holds it's ground by 2007, when the Large Hadron Collider will commence operation."

7 of 47 comments (clear)

  1. About time... by tjmsquared · · Score: 2, Informative

    Of course, we could have learned this about 10 years ago if the U.S. had not revoked the funding for the superconducting supercollider. I was a physics student at the time and interested in particle physics, and it's sad to see that we are just now starting to recover from that decision.

    1. Re:About time... by dtolman · · Score: 3, Informative
      Does that also mean that they don't really need the Large Hadron Collider to confirm this?

      That a well crafted experiment at a smaller collider could positively confirm it?

    2. Re:About time... by DynaSoar · · Score: 2, Informative

      hcg50a (690062) sez: "All they did was refine some data from the 1970s experiment..."

      No, they ran an entirely new experiment with equipment and analysis techniques that were more sensitive.

      --
      "I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B
    3. Re:About time... by hcg50a · · Score: 3, Informative

      They don't *need* the Large Hadron Collider to confirm it, but if they did use it, they could not only confirm it, but refine the measurements further and probably learn all kinds of other things at the same time.

      It's like using a small telescope vs using a large one: A small telescope may confirm something, but a larger one will tell you a lot more about it.

      A "well crafted experiment at a smaller collider could" indeed positively confirm it.

      --
      HCG 50a = 2MASX J11170638+5455016
      11h17m06.4s +54d55m02s
  2. Re:Nuclear physics Slashdot? by jabberjaw · · Score: 4, Informative

    Hmm, while I do admit that that would be nice there already is PhysicsWeb, BottomQuark, and the Physics Forums. If anyone else can add to this list please do!

  3. Posters should RTFA by menscher · · Score: 5, Informative
    As time moves on, the case for supersymmetry keeps getting stronger.
    No, it just hasn't been shown to be wrong yet.
    Physicsweb is reporting...
    How about "Physicsweb reported" (on Jan 8)...
    ...the most significant deviation to date between experiment and theory in particle physics...
    2.8 sigma may be the most significant to date, but it's not particularly significant.
    We will know for sure if supersymmetry holds it's ground by 2007, when the Large Hadron Collider will commence operation.
    No, it needs to run for a few years. And then it is only guaranteed to add constraints to the space of theories, not to prove/disprove any.

    This isn't to say that the g-2 experiment is useless; only that we shouldn't get too excited about it yet. Once things pass 3 sigma then the scientists will start to pay attention. Until then, it will just around speculation. Oh yeah, and yes, I am a particle physicist. But I'm just a lowly theorist. The experimentalists working on g-2 are down the hall.

  4. Re:Where's my squark? by barawn · · Score: 3, Informative

    However, I find it odd that we have a standard modle full of particles, but yet have not found any of their sparticles.

    So do I, but then I realize that supersymmetry is a "well-conceived theory" - that is, it has enough parameter space to just about completely avoid ever being disproved. :)

    I can't remember who it was, but at a seminar here a while ago, one of the presenters said "Supersymmetry predicts a huge number of particles... half of which have been discovered."

    I was amused.