After running the most accurate measurement of an electron’s electric dipole moment (also known as EDM) researchers have doubts regarding the ‘’split supersymmetry’’ theory and other related hypotheses outside the Standard Model of particle physics.
The measurement, which is the most accurate one available for now, was taken by American physicists who are currently working on the ACME experiment in the US. It appears that the EDM is smaller than 1.1×10−29 e cm, while the previous measurements placed it around 10−28 e cm. The results are particularly important for the researchers that use CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, since the particles they are searching for could be above the energy limit of the collider.
It is common knowledge that the electron has a magnetic dipole moment, caused by the intrinsic angular momentum or spin of the battery. The main issue is the existence of the time reversal symmetry, which states that physics is the same regardless of time flowing forward or backwards, which also bans the electron from having an EDM. The magnetic dipole moment is directly influenced by the rotation of the charge and if we go backwards in time its direction is reversed.
Since EDM appears due to the distribution of the electric charge inside the electro, which doesn’t change after the reversal, the electron cannot have an EDM and magnetic dipole moment at the same time. With time reversal theory as an essential part of the most simplified version of the Standard Model, any new measurement of the EDM may hint towards the existence of new physics. While some versions of the Standard Model accept a small deviation of the time reversal principle this would lead to an extremely small EDM, which is very hard to measure.
The ACME experiment used slow-moving thorium-oxide molecules, which were pulsed through a one were one electric and one magnetic field intersected while running perpendicular to the beam. As the molecules travel through the fields, the spin at a particular angle which is measured by the researchers. An existing EDM will influence the angle, and by analyzing the difference between molecules with and without an EDM, the EDM can be accurately measured.
According to these results, particle outside the Standard Model have a slim chance to appear in the experiments run at the Large Hadron Collider.
Henry Lares is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post. In regards to academics, Henry earned an engineering degree from Apex Technical School. Henry has a passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.
