New particles uncovered by researchers at the University of Hamburg and DESY
In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the University of Hamburg (UHH) and the German Electron Synchrotron DESY (desy.de) have found indications of a new particle called Toponium. This discovery, made at the CERN particle accelerator in Geneva, could rewrite textbooks and challenge long-held assumptions in physics.
Previously, it was assumed that the top quark, the heaviest known elementary particle, is too short-lived to form a bound state with its antiparticle, which Toponium represents. However, the new measurement results question this assumption.
The signals of Toponium were first detected in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and now the research focuses on investigating the signal more precisely. If confirmed, the discovery of Toponium could provide a more detailed understanding of the basic structure of all matter.
Laurids Jeppe, a doctoral student at UHH and part of the CMS research team at DESY, stated that the discovery shows that they have now reached a precision where even the rarest and most fleeting processes in nature can be measured. He is involved in the research concerning the new particle discovery and its implications, but specific details about his role in the investigation of Toponium are not provided.
Christian Schwanenberger, professor of experimental physics at UHH, explains that this result could have significant implications. He suggests that the discovery could open up new possibilities to study the behavior of top quarks in more detail and help physics to investigate the strong interaction, one of the four fundamental forces of nature that binds quarks into protons and neutrons.
The Quantum Universe excellence cluster, a collaboration between UHH and DESY, has been classified as "nationally significant". Five excellence clusters have been designated for top research in Hamburg, with The Quantum Universe being one of them.
Meanwhile, the life science industry in Hamburg is being evaluated for innovation. Separately, UHH has presented a new study on climate change.
However, not everyone expected the discovery of Toponium. Alexander Grohsjean, also a researcher at UHH within the CMS, stated that they were sure such a particle could not be observed. The journey to confirm the existence of Toponium continues, with researchers eager to delve deeper into the mysteries of the universe.
