LHC data probes beauty quark at record-small scale
Cambridge-led analysis of LHC data detected beauty-quark interactions at a billion-trillionth of a metre, a step toward dark-matter searches.
The story in focus
A Cambridge-led team analyzing Large Hadron Collider data detected beauty-quark interactions at a scale of a billion-trillionth of a metre, about 100 billion times smaller than an atom. Researchers say the result could help probe possible new particles and dark matter, but more data and a detector upgrade are needed.
- The team studied beauty quarks produced in high-energy particle collisions at the Large Hadron Collider.
- Beauty quarks are unstable and exist for about one and a half trillionths of a second before decaying.
- Researchers detected the particles interacting at a scale of a billion-trillionth of a metre.
- The 28 countries involved agreed a £150m LHCb detector upgrade to increase decay frequency tenfold.
- UK Research and Innovation withdrew its share of funding for the planned upgrade.
What was detected
A Cambridge-led team analyzing data from the Large Hadron Collider detected beauty-quark interactions at a scale of a billion-trillionth of a metre, roughly 100 billion times smaller than an atom. Some physicists have nicknamed this realm the zeptoverse.
Beauty quarks are unstable sub-atomic particles that exist for about one and a half trillionths of a second before decaying into other forms. Despite that short lifetime, researchers detected the quarks interacting with other tiny particles.
Why it matters
The result could help researchers develop a more complete theory of how the Universe works. Some theories suggest particles at these scales are more sensitive to dark matter, which has remained undetected despite its gravitational influence on normal matter.
Dr Harry Cliff of Cambridge University, who led the data analysis, said the team was knocking on the door of the zeptoverse and needed more data to explore what new particles might be present.
Next steps and funding
The 28 countries involved in the project have agreed a £150m upgrade to the LHCb detector, which would increase the frequency of these decays tenfold. However, UK Research and Innovation announced last year that it was withdrawing its share of the money for the upgrade.
Prof Tim Gershon, who leads the LHCb international collaboration, said the UK's full involvement would be in doubt. UKRI told BBC News it remained a fully engaged member of Cern as its second largest funder at around £175m per year.
What did the Cambridge-led team detect at the Large Hadron Collider?
The team detected beauty-quark interactions at a scale of a billion-trillionth of a metre, about 100 billion times smaller than an atom, according to BBC News.
Sources & further reading
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