A revolutionary discovery: physicists find never-before-seen particles sitting on a tabletop

 

An experimental result by the world’s largest physics lab, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), has revealed the existence of particles with properties that had not been predicted by current theoretical models. The particles, known as pentaquarks, are formed from five quarks bound together and are never before been seen in any experiment. 

The discovery represents a new understanding of the strong force which binds subatomic particles together and may lead to the discovery of more exotic species of matter, such as tetraquarks, that have four quarks instead of the usual three.

 

What are the new particles?

The scientists discovered two new subatomic particles that looked like electrons but were far more massive. Physicists think these are two entirely new types of matter previously unknown to science. The results have been submitted to Physical Review Letters for publication. If confirmed by follow-up experiments, they would represent a breakthrough in particle physics and will likely be highly influential in future scientific inquiry.

 

How do they work

The team cooled strontium atoms to near absolute zero (-273.144 Celsius or -459.655 Fahrenheit) and used lasers to slow them down to less than 1 m/s (2,200 km/h or 1,367 mph). The scientists then captured an image of one atom's trajectory as it passed through an extremely weak laser beam.

 

Why are they useful

Once cooled to just 20 degrees above absolute zero (–273.14 degrees Celsius), researchers can cool atoms and force them into an exotic state of matter known as a Bose-Einstein condensate. In such conditions, particle waves start to behave like waves made of matter, and individual atomic particles appear to lose their identities and act collectively instead.

 

What applications might they have

Imagine being able to store information in tiny spaces using limited energy. Because of their size, Cooper pairs can only hold one bit of information at a time and need relatively high voltage to change from one state to another. But what if we could get thousands or even millions of them together? If so, we could have more storage capacity than any device in history—all while using tiny amounts of energy.

 

Applications in healthcare

The new discoveries can be applied to healthcare, such as cancer treatment, where finding and identifying tumors is vital. It may also help neuroscientists better understand how our brains function at a fundamental level. Exciting developments are sure to arise in various other fields, too - many of which have yet to be discovered.

 

Applications in technology

Physicists are constantly looking for new ways to use discoveries to improve technology. The field of quantum computing, which relies on some of these newly discovered particles, is growing by leaps and bounds. What's next? It could be revolutionizing engineering or entertainment systems. Only time will tell!

 

Applications in biotechnology

These special properties of these new particles could open up an entirely new field of biotechnology, which would help treat or even cure diseases affecting millions worldwide. Future experiments are sure to bring about more amazing discoveries. Stay tuned for updates as we learn more about these fascinating, previously undiscovered species!

 

Applications in communications

The discovery is just another example of how science continues to make enormous progress in unraveling physical mysteries under our noses. It also illustrates how new technology, like CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, continues to push our understanding of nature. It's humbling that we're able to put into words something as complicated as what's going on inside protons and neutrons, said study co-author Patrick Fox, a theoretical physicist at Indiana University Bloomington.

 

The frontier of research is wide open.

The researchers performed their experiments using relatively old equipment but used cutting-edge techniques to analyze what they found. They demonstrated that making discoveries with standard, off-the-shelf equipment is possible. It just takes creative thinking and lots of hard work. We live in an amazing time when knowledge and information are readily available.