In recent years, the cutting edge of physics has taken place, large research facilities equipped to analyze the smallest pieces of our universe. Many of these labs are known as particle accelerators, which hurdle subatomic particles at each other in order to study the way they interact and behave. Physicists at these high-tech facilities have spent decades testing the current theory of particle physics known as the Standard Model.
Since the 1960s, particle physicists have failed to find a crack in the Standard Model. Time and time again theoretical predictions have matched new experiments, leaving scientists questioning where and how physics will develop. But after experiments in April, at Fermilab, a particle physics laboratory in Batavia, IL, physicists found that a subatomic particle known as the Muon behaved in ways that contradict the Standard Model.
The Muon is one of 17 subatomic particles which make up the Standard Model of particle physics. The Standard Model establishes these 17 particles as the fundamental building blocks of the universe and dictates the laws that govern their behavior and interactions. For around 50 years, the Standard Model has been the accepted model for dealing with interactions at the smallest physical level to an astonishing degree of accuracy.
“The problem for particle physics is that it’s been too good.” Richard Watkins, a professor of Physics at Willamette University, told the Clypian, “Without a measurement that disagrees with the model, physicists don’t know where new features need to be added to improve the model.”
The experiment that has caused this upset is known as “Muon g-2”. The name of the experiment refers to the particle physics variable “g”, which is a measurement of a particle’s “intrinsic magnetic moment”.
“Basically they act like tiny bar magnets” Watkins said when asked to describe what “g” measures. “g” is directly related to how particles create magnetic fields.
The Standard Model has a theoretical prediction for the Muon’s “g” value. The goal of the experiment was to see if the experimental value contradicted this calculated value. Now that the experimental value was different by a wide enough range from the calculated value, physicists are excited over the possibility of “New Physics”.
Now, the physics community is in heated debate over the Muon g-2 results. “It turns out that the Standard Model prediction is very difficult to calculate.” Watkins said. “There is a recent paper that predicts a Standard Model value for the Muon magnetic moment that is much closer to the measured value.” Despite this, there are many physicists, especially those involved in Muon g-2 directly, that support the position that the results could lead to even greater developments in physics.
If the results are proven right, students can expect to see expedient changes in high school physics as the basics of the Standard Model are taught in Junior and Senior level physics courses.
The Clypian interviewed Max Howard, a student at South and a prospective Physics major at University of Oregon, to understand how students involved in the physics program would feel about the changes in physics and their effect on the curriculum if the results are confirmed.
In response to a question about the ethics of teaching theoretical physics, especially in developing fields, to high school students Howard responded saying “as long as it is communicated that the science only deals in theories and that nothing is truly ever completely factual.”
When asked about the possibility of major change to the curriculum, he responded positively saying, “It gives me greater motivation because I know that such a major change provides opportunity for more research and attention to go into the field.”
Like with all fields of science, the nature of their curriculum will develop as the field does.
